§ John RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact on children with HIV/AIDS of the shortage of specially designed drugs. [185351]
Mr. Gareth ThomasEvery day, about 1,700 children become infected with HIV. There are an estimated 2.1 million children under age 15 living with HIV in the world today. The vast majority of these are in developing countries.
Including children with HIV in treatment and care programmes is critical. Brazil has successfully implemented antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for children and adolescents as part of its national treatment policy. A number of other countries, including Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa, are beginning to enrol large numbers of children with HIV in their programmes.
However, the absence of specially designed drugs for children causes problems. Many ARVs are not available in paediatric formulations that can be given to small children as a liquid, and tablets are often not 385W manufactured in small enough doses for a child's body weight, requiring pharmacists and doctors to guess how to break up tablets or dose according to weight.
The UK, through its recently published strategy on HIV and AIDS and DFID's new policy on HIV and AIDS treatment and care, has committed to support research into paediatric treatments including paediatric ARVs, and future treatment options. Indeed, the new HIV and AIDS Strategy prioritises the needs of children alongside those of women and vulnerable and marginalised groups. The UK has committed £150 million over the next three years on work to respond to the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. DFID has also
UK Aid 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 Nicaragua 1,996 3,780 636 613 2,397 Philippines 10,220 6,424 2,245 5,744 1,177 Romania 4,158 3,744 3,439 5,396 6,167 Ukraine 8,619 8,442 9,331 8,877 7,892
EU multilateral share £million 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Nicaragua 2.6 3.3 3.0 5.2 3.6 Philippines 3.0 3.9 3.4 3.4 2.9 Romania 11.4 19.1 2.8 32.2 57.5 Ukraine 0.8 11.2 8.4 8.8 11.8 There is no separate funding under trade agreements. Any funding relating to trade agreements is included in the above figures.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the UK provided(a) directly, (b) through the EU
UK Aid £000 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Honduras 3,351 2,097 1,371 1,220 1,075 Kazakhstan 1,359 1,077 896 699 720 Macedonia 530 12,326 2,185 8,066 1,837 Moldova 825 829 1,074 1,584 3,354 Mongolia 477 322 1,408 542 395
386W
EU multilateral share £million 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Honduras 0.7 1.3 1.8 2.2 1.7 Kazakhstan 1.3 1.4 1.9 0.8 0.9 Macedonia 1.0 3.0 9.7 10.6 6.7 Moldova 0.8 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.6 Mongolia 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.4 endorsed UNICEF's Strategic Framework on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. We will work to ensure children have access to treatment and care.