HIV and AIDS must be tackled by G8

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Aug 2005

Manchester Withington MP John Leech has written to the Prime Minister and urged him to take a more pro-active role in tackling AIDS/HIV as part of his responsibilities whilst chairing the G8 group of leading nations.

Nearly a hundred South Manchester constituents have raised G8 and AIDS/HIV with John in the past month.

John has responded, pointing out that Liberal Democrats believe that the G8's Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on AIDS/HIV is achievable with replenishment of the Global Fund, changes to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) rules on generic drugs, and education programs to fight the stigma of AIDS/HIV.

John Leech MP said:

"I echo many of the concerns my constituents in Withington have raised with me regarding G8 and AIDS/HIV. The government needs to deliver on all the MDGs including that for AIDS/HIV, not just the Economic or Military targets".