Spending on the battle against HIV/AIDS in the developing world needs to rise to five times its present level, according to the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan. Opening a special session of the General Assembly on the issue, he said an unprecedented crisis required an unprecedented response.
"In the 20 years since the world first heard of AIDS, the epidemic has spread to every corner of the world. It has killed almost 22 million people. It has left 13 million children orphaned," he said.
In some African countries it had set back development by a decade or more and now it was spreading "with frightening speed" in Eastern Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. "All of us must recognise AIDS as our problem. All of us must make it our priority," he said. Partnership was needed between the public and private sectors and throughout society.
"Finally, solidarity is needed - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, above all between richer and poorer nations."
He urged the leaders of the developed world to be generous. "We must mobilise the money required for this exceptional effort - and we must make sure it is used effectively. That is why I have called for a Global AIDS and Health Fund, open to both governments and private donors, to help us finance the comprehensive, coherent, co-ordinated strategy we need."
He added: "When we urge others to change their behaviour so as to protect themselves against infection, we must be ready to change our own behaviour in the public arena. We cannot deal with AIDS by making moral judgments, or refusing to face unpleasant facts - and still less by stigmatising those who are infected and making out that it is all their fault.
"We can only do it by speaking clearly and plainly about the ways that people become infected and about what they can do to avoid infection. Let us remember that every person who is infected - whatever the reason - is a fellow human being, with human rights and human needs. Let no one imagine that we can protect ourselves by building barriers between us and them. For in the ruthless world of AIDS, there is no us and them."
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to pledge a substantial sum when he attends the special session today. The UN estimates that an additional $7 billion to $10 billion is required annually to combat the disease. Mr Annan said this was about one quarter the annual budget for the city of New York.
Although the fund has not yet been formally established, a total of $528.2 million has already been pledged. Mr Annan himself donated $100,000 awarded to him as the winner of the Philadelphia Liberty Medal for his work to promote peace. The donors so far are: US, $200 million; France, $127 million; United Kingdom, $100 million; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, $100 million; Winterthur Insurance, a branch of the Credit Suisse investment group, $1 million; Mr Annan, $100,000; International Olympic Committee, $100,000.
The US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, told delegates that his country's contribution of $200 million was only a beginning: "We hope this seed money will generate billions more from donors all over the world, and more will come from the United States as we learn where our support can be most effective."
The Cuban Vice-President, Mr Carlos Lage Davila, said his country would send 4,000 doctors and health workers to poorer countries, anti-retroviral drugs for 30,000 patients, and material for education and prevention programmes. "We have begun to live in a sick millennium," he said. Meanwhile, the General Assembly yesterday voted down an attempt by Islamic countries to block participation by a US-based gay rights group in a panel discussion at the UN special session on Aids.