§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of their overseas aid expenditure in Uganda has been committed to HIV prevention, palliative care and education during the last two financial years; and whether this proportion will be maintained, or increased. [HL3466]
§ Baroness AmosThe UK Government take an integrated approach to their support for health improvement in Uganda. As such it is not possible to204WA identify all funding which supports action against a single infection. The Department for International Development's (DFID) support from bilateral funds which can be identified as specifically targeted towards prevention of HIV infection and care for people suffering with AIDS amounted to 3.5 per cent. of all development investment (around £3 million) in Uganda over 1996–97 and 1997–98. So far in 1998–99 we have spent £2.7 million on direct HIV activities. In addition to funds committed through the bilateral programme DFID has funded HIV activities carried out by NGOs through the Joint Funding Scheme and has contributed to the costs of a Medical Research Council operation based in Entebbe.
While the efforts of the Government of Uganda have resulted in it being the first country to report significant and sustained falls in the prevalence rate of HIV infection, a continued national and international effort will be required to maintain this decline. We have no plans to reduce our support, although the overall proportion of our expenditure directed specifically at HIV/AIDS activities may decline as a result of our increased support for Universal Primary Education and broader-based programmes in the health and other important pro-poor sectors.