HC Deb 23 March 1999 vol 328 cc189-90W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to offer aid to South African medical workers to combat the HIV problem. [78127]

Mr. Foulkes

DFID has helped South African efforts to combat HIV/AIDS since 1995. £10 million has been provided to support the national AIDS control programme, a condom social marketing programme and community based initiatives aimed at changing sexual behaviour, especially in high risk groups. Tackling AIDS is a key priority of DFID' s new development partnership with South Africa. We plan to work with other donors to support regional action to strengthen the capacity of Southern Africa Development Community member countries to combat the epidemic.

DFID also supports South Africa's essential drugs programme which makes available short courses of antiretrovirals to medical workers (especially surgeons, midwives and dentists) affected by needlestick injuries when operating on/treating HIV positive patients as a way of reducing the risk of transmission of HIV to medical workers.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money she has allocated in the last year for which figures are available for Third World countries to combat the HIV problem. [78126]

Mr. Foulkes

In the financial year 1997–98, £43 million of Britain's overseas development budget was spent on activities directly related to the problem of HIV/AIDS in the developing world. More recent figures are not yet available.

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