On World Aids Day, Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Jill Evans MEP has highlighted the need for governments in the developed world to provide more funding for aids programmes is developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where one in five adults is now infected with HIV/AIDS according to a recent UN/WHO report.

The report - 'AIDS Epidemic 2003' - published last week by the Joint United Nations and World Health Organisation programme on HIV/AIDS says that five million people worldwide became infected with HIV and 3 million died of the disease this year.

Ms Evans has been active in the European Parliament campaigning for better funding to deal with communicable and poverty related diseases in the developing world.

Jill Evans, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, said:

"The 2003 UNAIDS report shows that we have a long way to go in tackling this epidemic and that the current momentum of political will and funding support does not go far enough. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that the cycle of illness and death is broken by a two-pronged approach - through sexual health education and raising awareness and through ensuring access to affordable and suitable drugs.

”The startling figure that 95% of those newly infected with HIV live in low and middle income countries highlights the link with poverty and the most vulnerable people in society. It is in all of our interests for richer developed countries to provide more financial assistance to lesser developed countries, particularly in southern Africa, where people are suffering terribly as a result of this disease."

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