Web of Life

Europe’s AIDS problem is worsening as the rate of new infections in some new member states are the highest in the World, the European Commission has warned.

The epidemic is not confined to the new member states. The proportion of newly reported HIV cases has also doubled in Western Europe since 1995.

Greater efforts are needed to prevent the spread of the disease, and EU member states and neighbouring countries need to give HIV/AIDS "the attention it deserves", declared David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, yesterday (8 September).

People in poorer European countries should have access to affordable treatment. Also, better coordination of national strategies and projects to develop new medicines and vaccines are urgently needed, officials said.

HIV/AIDS is not just a problem for Africa and the developing world, stressed Commissioner Pavel Telika.

"We have a serious epidemic beginning to resurface right here in parts of Europe. The EU must provide political leadership for the continent-wide action needed to avert this", added Mr Telika.

Later this month health ministers and experts across the EU and its eastern neighbours will gather in Lithuania to build a consensus on Europe-wide actions to combat the disease.

(http://www.island.lk/2004/09/23/features5.html)