UNAIDS seeks Pope's support to stop new HIV infections in children

(April 13, 2012) The head of the United Nations programme for combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS has requested the personal engagement of Pope Benedict XVI in ending new HIV infections in children. During a brief meeting with the head of the Catholic Church at the end of the papal general audience on Wednesday in Rome, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé spoke to Pope Benedict about how keeping children free from HIV was an achievable goal and, with concerted efforts, one which can be reached by 2015. “Millions of people around the world living with and affected by HIV are being supported by catholic health care organizations,” Sidibé acknowledged, adding, “The full engagement of the Catholic Church in efforts to achieve zero new HIV infections among children is of paramount importance.”
The Vatican estimates that Catholic Church-related organizations provide approximately 25% of all HIV treatment, care, and support throughout the world. In 2010, the Vatican reported that more than 5,000 hospitals, 18,000 dispensaries, and 9,000 orphanages, many involved in AIDS-related activities, were being supported by the Catholic Church.
Following the papal audience, Sidibé met Michel Roy, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, the confederation of 164 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. As a valued partner of UNAIDS, Caritas Internationalis serves as one of the civil society organizations represented on the steering committee of the Global Plan to eliminate new HIV infections in children. The full engagement of the Catholic Church in efforts to achieve zero new HIV infections among children is of paramount importance. Faith-based organizations are instrumental in providing HIV related prevention, treatment care and support to people living with and affected by HIV. The World Health Organization has estimated that faith-based groups provide between 30% and 70% of all health care in Africa. The UNAIDS chief subsequently met Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the two discussed the AIDS epidemic in Africa, sustainable financing and HIV as a development issue. Cardinal Turkson said that, “With the medical technology readily available, making sure that children are born free of HIV-infection is a goal the human family can and should achieve, without delay, and would contribute to the human, economic and social development of the countries involved.”
Recognising the important work of the faith community in the AIDS response, UNAIDS established a strategic framework in 2009, to strengthen partnerships between UNAIDS and faith based organisations. The framework outlines the need for global and national religious leaders to take supportive public action in the AIDS response and strengthen the capacity of faith based organisations to work on HIV issues.