The Global Unions AIDS Programme has called on its membership to join forces with African and Canadian trade unions in support the “Days of Action” campaign commencing March 21, and continuing through April 28, 2010. The international lobby group will target this year’s G8 and G20 Summits for the provision of Universal Access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care. The action is timed to precede a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the G20 countries in Ottawa, Canada on March 29-30, 2010, and a meeting of Development Ministers In Halifax, Canada April 26-28, 2010.
With the banking crisis threatening the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people, the World AIDS Campaign today launched Keep The Promise Now! An online petition calling on leaders of the world’s richest countries to live up to their faltering commitment to fund access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by the end of this year.
"Canada's 'signature' initiative at June's G8 summit – a strategy to improve the health of mothers and young children in poor countries" will not include family planning programs, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on Tuesday, the Globe and Mail reports. Cannon said the initiative "does not deal in any way, shape or form with family planning. Indeed, the purpose of this is to be able to save lives."
On March 8, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria launched its report, The Global Fund 2010: Innovation and Impact, presenting results so far and outlining challenges and new strategies. Since its inception in 2002, the Fund has grown into an impressive force in the landscape of global health initiatives. By its own estimation, the Fund has supported programmes that have saved around 4·9 million lives. It has allocated US$19·2 billion and disbursed $10 billion to 144 countries.
