*EPF509 11/14/2003
Text: Ambassador Lyon Says Infectious Diseases Are Global Problem
(Statement to Conference of the Pacific Community meeting) (1400)

Infectious diseases such as SARS, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are a global problem that will require a global effort to combat successfully, according to David Lyon, U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.

"[N]o technology is sufficiently powerful, to guarantee that any country, by itself, can effectively defend against the threat of SARS or any other infectious diseases," Lyon said in a statement to the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Pacific Community November 12.

While reducing the threat from the spread of infectious diseases is a challenge to all nations, the ambassador said, "It should be acknowledged that the burden of dealing with infectious diseases falls most heavily on developing countries."

"Already stretched in so many ways, few developing countries have the resources to cope with a major public health challenge" such as HIV/AIDS, he said.

Of the 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS, most are between the ages of 15 and 24, Lyon noted, adding that women are "increasingly disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS."

"The economic and psychological damage caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic may set the development of some countries back for decades," he warned.

To combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, President Bush has proposed a five-year, $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that is expected to prevent seven million new HIV infections through voluntary testing and counseling, according to Lyon. He noted that the United States "is the largest bilateral donor of HIV/AIDS assistance, providing almost half of all international HIV/AIDS funding in 2002."

"Stopping the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, will require a global effort," Lyon said. "The U.S. is committed to do its part and welcomes the SPC's [Secretariat of the Pacific Community's] proposal to devote greater attention to this issue."

Following is the text of Lyon's statement:

(begin text)

Embassy of the United States of America
Suva, Fiji
Wednesday, November 12, 2003

For Immediate Release

Statement by Ambassador David Lyon
Third Meeting of the Conference of the Pacific Community
Suva, Fiji
November 10-11, 2003

Mr. Chairman, Ministers and other distinguished participants, I am very pleased to have the honor to represent the United States at this third meeting of the Conference of the Pacific Community. As U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu, I have seen first hand the efforts of the peoples of the Pacific to raise their levels of economic and social development. The SPC has been a reliable partner in these efforts, providing the "know how" to set governments and publics on the path to a better future. In supporting the sustainable management of marine resources, the introduction of new pest control techniques, and the fuller integration of women into island societies and economies -- to cite just a few of its accomplishments -- the SPC has made a significant contribution to the economic and social well-being of Pacific islanders.

The theme of this year's Conference -- The Pacific's Response to Infectious Diseases -- highlights a new challenge to development, and a threat to countries worldwide. In today's globalized world, with more people and goods moving between countries more quickly than ever before, the potential for the spread of new, devastating infections is greater than ever before.

As you know all too well, since its apparent emergence in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong last November, SARS is suspected of having sickened more than 5000 people and killed over 300 in 28 countries. The economic consequences of SARS have been severe, as international travel and tourism to all regions plummeted, and the disease threatened to disrupt trading patterns in Asia and the Pacific. No one knows if or when SARS may reappear.

SARS highlights the need for significant investment in public health infrastructure, transparency, and above all, international cooperation. No barrier is too high, no technology is sufficiently powerful, to guarantee that any country, by itself, can effectively defend against the threat of SARS or any other infectious diseases.

Reducing the threat from the spread of infectious disease is a challenge to all of us, but it should be acknowledged that the burden of dealing with infectious diseases falls most heavily on developing countries. Already stretched in so many ways, few developing countries have the resources to cope with a major public health challenge. Over the past two decades, this has been seen most clearly in the spread of HIV/AIDS and its impact on developing countries in Africa, in Asia and around the globe. Of the 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS, most are between the ages of 15 and 24, the segment of the population that is just entering its most productive years. Women are also increasingly disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. And HIV/AIDS has created an estimated 15 million orphans. The vast majority of these children are likely to live without emotional support, without the barest of physical necessities, and with few prospects for the future. The economic and psychological damage caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic may set the development of some countries back for decades.

To turn the tide against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, President Bush has proposed a five-year, $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The Plan is expected to prevent seven million new HIV infections through voluntary testing and counseling and behavior change that follows the Abstinence, Be faithful, or use Condoms, in that priority, model (the ABC model); treat two million persons living with HIV/AIDS with advanced antiretroviral therapies; and care for ten million HIV-infected individuals and children orphaned by AIDS. The U.S. is the largest bilateral donor of HIV/AIDS assistance, providing almost half of all international HIV/AIDS funding in 2002. We have bilateral programs in 75 countries, including some represented here in this room, and the President's Emergency Plan will continue those programs. We have pledged $1.6 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. That is one-third of the $4.7 billion that has been pledged to the fund. I am pleased to note that over the next five years the SPC will receive US$14.2 million from the Global Fund for use in the Pacific Region. Next year's contribution of approximately US$3.5 million will be the single largest project grant to the SPC in 2004.

Stopping the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, will require a global effort. The U.S. is committed to do its part and welcomes the SPC's proposal to devote greater attention to this issue. As we discuss how this might best be done, I'd like to suggest that we consider an integrated approach that incorporates health awareness into as many SPC programs as possible. For example:

-- As I noted earlier, young people between the ages of 15 and 24 face the greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, so it makes sense for AIDS awareness to be incorporated into the SPC's programs for youth.

-- Sailors, who travel the world, have long been known to run a great risk from sexually transmitted diseases. So AIDS awareness should be a part of the SPC's regional maritime program.

-- Over-cutting of tropical forests creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of the spread of malaria and other mosquito-born diseases. Means and methods to avoid this side effect of unsustainable logging should be covered in the SPC's forestry programming.

I look forward to discussing these and other ideas when we come to the thematic portion of our meeting.

Mr. Chairman, before I close, I would like to offer an endorsement of Director General Lou Pangelinan's leadership of the SPC. We commend her efforts to put the organization on a more business-like footing and increase its effectiveness through the new Corporate Plan. The U.S. believes that she has earned the right to a third and final two-year term through her hard work and dedication to the organization. We hope and trust that others agree, and will confirm this at the appropriate point of the agenda.

I look forward to cordial and productive discussions of the SPC's programs over the next two days. Together, I am confident we can devise mutually acceptable solutions to the issues that the Secretariat has put before us, and help keep the SPC on a sound path for the years ahead.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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