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| Words won't fight Aids |
| Other website - 00:00' 03/06/2006 (GMT+7) |
 HIV/Aids is a global emergency and urgent action needed to be taken rather than spewing out words about the pandemic, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane has said.
On the eve of a United Nations high level meeting on HIV and Aids in New York from today, Ndungane said - in response to reported bickering between different government representatives and between governments and civil society organisations over the wording of a political declaration on the disease - that there was "no time for wrangling over the wording of a political declaration when every minute of every day a child dies of Aids and a child becomes infected with Aids.
"Words, words, words won't help us in our fight against the pandemic. Now is the time for action. There are three things we need to do."
"First we need to develop a comprehensive, holistic and integrated approach by all stakeholders in dealing with the pandemic. We need multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral strategies in our fight against the pandemic."
"Second we need constructive and creative partnerships between governments, the private sector and the broad church of civil society organisations including faith communities."
"Third we need a huge resource mobilisation in order to curtail the spread of the pandemic. Our ultimate objective is a generation without Aids. We believe that this is a real achievable possibility. We can do this through developing appropriate programmes that target young people, women and children and help create sustainable livelihoods among communities, especially the poor."
" The pandemic is too big an issue for petty jealousies about what others are doing and possessiveness from any sector," said the archbishop.
The Review of the Declaration of Commitments on HIV and Aids will be held in New York from May 31 to June 2. Participants from governments and civil society organisations will discuss concerns and experiences both formally and informally.
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