Public health and development: actions in the field of the AIDS in developing countries, 1997-1999 programme

Recalling that some 17 million people around the world were affected by the AIDS virus and that the predicted figure for the year 2000 was 40 million, the rapporteur, Mrs André-Léonard (ELDR, B), said that the fight against poverty was also an important one, since records showed that the disease was most prevalent among the working populations of Asia and Africa. She also called for actions to provide communication, information and training, with special attention given to groups at risk (refugees, migrants, itinerant workers, soldiers, prisoners and prostitutes) and to the socially and economically most vulnerable individuals and communities. In addition, Mrs André-Léonard wanted to see the free distribution of condoms, better health care and social services and support for information and training programmes for local health workers. Commissioner Papoutsis expressed agreement with: Amendment No 1, which sought to extend the programme to include other sexually transmitted diseases; Amendment No 11 (part 1); No 18, which called for mechanisms to provide aid to the poorest sectors of the community; Nos 6 and 25, which related to financial resources; and No 26. He also said that Amendments Nos 4, 7, 9, 11 (part II), 13, 16, 17 and 19 were unnecessary, since they had been incorporated into the text of the common position. He went on to say that Amendments Nos 5, 12, 14, 15, 20 (part II), 21 and 27 would be acceptable if they were re-worded. On the other hand, he rejected Amendments Nos 3, 8, 10, 20 (part I), 22, 23, 24, 28 (part II) and 29.