HC Deb 19 December 2003 vol 416 cc38-40W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government provided for HIV/AIDS programmes in(a) Burundi, (b) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (c) Rwanda and (d) Uganda in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003; what funding will be provided in (A) 2004, (B) 2005 and (C) 2006; and what research has been commissioned on the number of people infected in each country. [146022]

Hilary Benn

Support to HIV/AIDS is being provided as followsBurundi: £5.1 million over a three-year period (2002 to 2005) through Action Aid for support to the National AIDS Control Programme and Population Services International (PSI) for condom social marketing. Research and monitoring is carried out nationally by the National AIDS Control Programme. DRC: In 2002–03 a total of £375,622 through MSF for an AIDS Care project in Bukavu was spent; in 2003–04 a total of £500,000 to Population Services International (PSI) for an expanded programme of condom social marketing has been spent. Research and monitoring is carried out nationally by the National AIDS Control Programme based in Kinshasa. DFID is doubling its core contribution next year as are others. DPID recently published its Country Engagement Plan for the DRC which sets out the key aims for a post-conflict DRC. The fight against HIV/AIDS is one of those aims and we will be working with partners on this as we build up our programme. Rwanda: £2.95 million to the National AIDS Commission over the period April 2002 to March 2005. The primary objective is to substantially enhance the effectiveness of Rwanda's response to HIV/AIDS. DFID has also committed £895,993 to PSI over the period February 2002 to February 2005 to support social marketing of condoms and £521,000 to support an HIV/AIDS unit within the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology over the period April 2001 to March 2006. In addition, since 2000–01 DFID has provided £65.4 million in general budget support to the Government of Rwanda (GoR) and is planning to provide a further £84 million over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. This provides core funding so that GoR can tackle its Poverty Reduction Strategy objectives, which include improving HIV/AIDS related health care activities. Research on the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS was carried out in Rwanda before 1994 and looked at the historical background of HIV infection. In 1997 the Ministry of Health carried out research on the number of people infected and 11.1 per cent. were found to be HIV positive. During six months of every year all hospitals in Rwanda are asked to carry out a survey on the number of infected pregnant women for both rural and urban areas. The GoR currently estimate that 400,000 of its population are infected with HIV/AIDS. GoR will be carrying out an HIV/AIDS demographic survey in early 2004. Uganda: In 2000–01 a total of £1.5 million was spent on HIV/AIDS; in 2001–02 £0.9 million was spent; in 2002–03 £1.23 million was spent. A total of £0.78 million has so far been spent in 2003–04 (£1.27 million is forecast for this financial year). For 2004–05 and 2005–06 £2 million is forecast respectively for each year. In addition, since 2000–01 general budget support has been provided to the Government of Uganda. However, it is impossible to estimate how much is being spent on HIV-related and health care activities. The numbers of people infected are currently measured through a sentinel surveillance system where they are anonymously tested. A survey of 30,000 people is planned for early 2004 and will be undertaken by USAID and the Government of Uganda.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS in(a) Burundi, (b) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (c) Rwanda and (d) Uganda in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. [146050]

Hilary Benn

Accurate data of the number of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS is limited throughout the Great Lakes region. In Burundi it is estimated to be about 30,000 a year. In DRC it is estimated to be about 800,000 a year. In Rwanda it is estimated to be about 40,000 a year. In Uganda, according to the situation analysis of orphans in Uganda November 2002, it is estimated that there are a total of 2 million orphans of which 884,000 are AIDS orphans. This information was based on 2001 data. We have no more recent data.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the HIV/AIDS situation in the countries of the Great Lakes Region in Africa. [146051]

Hilary Benn

More than two-thirds of all HIV-infected people live in Sub-Saharan Africa—some 25 million people (and over 13 million have already died as a result of AIDS). The Great Lakes region remains the most severely affected and most countries there face a serious crisis.

According to UN AIDS estimates for 1999, the cumulative total number infected and cumulative deaths for Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda are as follows:

Cumulative total of number infected Cumulative deaths
Burundi 360,000 39,000
Rwanda 400,000 40,000
Tanzania 1,300,000 140,000
Uganda 820,000 11,000

Only Uganda has achieved an apparently sustainable reduction in the rate of new infection.

In the case of DRC, according to a recent report by the UN, half of the hospital beds are occupied by people with HIV/AIDS and it will take years to measure the exact impact in the country. Efforts to combat HIV/AIDS have been hampered by nearly five years of civil war. The UN mission in-country is using the media to increase awareness as well as working through non-governmental organisations. DFID recently published its Country Engagement Plan for the DRC which sets out the key aims for a post-conflict DRC. The fight against HIV/AIDS is one of those aims and we will be working with partners on this as we build up our programme in the DRC.

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