Vatican official tells U.N. world must boost funds for AIDS drugs

Published: 2007-05-23

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- The world community needs to boost its funding for providing antiretroviral drugs to people with HIV in poor countries, a top Vatican official told the U.N. General Assembly May 22. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican nuncio at the United Nations, said the apparently huge amount of money needed to bring life-saving drugs to those who cannot afford them would average out to "only $3 to $4 per person on the planet." The fact that only 28 percent of the 7.1 million people get the antiretroviral treatment they need "represents a sorrowful ratio," he said. Archbishop Migliore spoke during the 61st session of the U.N. General Assembly, which met to follow up on the "Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS." In 2001, governments pledged to help provide universal access to HIV prevention programs, treatment, care and support by 2010.

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