Reed Goes On Record

Loughborough MP, Andy Reed has gone on record to pledge his support for ActionAid’s campaign to ensure universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010.

The ActionAid campaign is calling for world leaders to uphold the commitment made at the Gleneagles G8 summit in July 2005, to rapidly expand provision of HIV treatment with a target of achieving universal access by 2010.

According to ActionAid, only 1.6 million people are receiving the necessary antiretroviral drugs out of the total 6.5 million who urgently need them. This is despite the steady rise in availability in the past two years.

ActionAid are campaigning for more to be done to ensure sufficient funds are available world-wide, to enable affordable versions of the drugs to be produced and to strengthen the healthcare systems in developing countries to ensure that the treatments can be administered safely and effectively.

Reed said:

“Having seen for myself in Ethiopia the difference that access to these drugs makes to so many families and individuals, I am delighted that we are making progress in this vital area.

“However, I recognise the need to act faster so that more lives can be saved and so I fully support the campaign by ActionAid to ensure that the promises made in Gleneagles are upheld.”

“It is scandalous that so many people in the developing world are denied access to life-saving drugs and I will do all that I can to help put right this situation. I will continue to press the government to uphold its G8 pledge to ensure the availability of AIDS treatment for all by 2010.”