| Venerable
Clergy
The Co-Chairs,
Hon. Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Delegates to the Congress,
Representatives of UN Agencies,
Representatives of Civil Society,
Distinguished Invitees,
Ladies and Gentlemen
I take this opportunity
to extend a warm welcome to all delegates and others
attending the 8th International Congress on AIDS in
Asia and the Pacific co-hosted by the Ministry of Healthcare
and Nutrition of Sri Lanka in conjunction with the Local
Organizing Committee.
When I see the large number of distinguished
persons from across the Asia and Pacific region and
beyond, to witness and participate in this important
international event, it fills me with great hope to
know that the world community continues to join hands
in its response to HIV and AIDS.
At the outset, I wish to commend the Ministry of Health
and the Local Organizing Committee for their excellent
organizational skills My thanks go to everyone who provided
expertise in helping to meet the gols of the Congress.
I also wish to pay tribute to the
many UN Agencies, including the World Bank, skillfully
coordinated by the hard work of UNAIDS, for supporting
Sri Lanka’s efforts to make this important event
a success, with financial, material and human resource
inputs.
I firmly believed that political
leadership at the highest level in any country is a
vital catalyst in transforming societies. What we do
as leaders now will be remembered in the future and
will have a direct impact on the lives of future generations.
This is especially relevant to measures
that are necessary in bringing about changes in attitude
and behaviour among the public. Leadership would also
have an impact at policy development and at administrative
levels leading to improved attitudes of government officials.
All these aspects will uphold our efforts towards strengthening
prevention and the control of HIV AIDS.
Sri Lanka
is considered a country with a low prevalence of HIV
infection. At first glance, it may seem that there is
no threat to us. Yet, I am pleased that communities
from countries in the Asia and Pacific region have come
to Colombo, to work together, to share their experiences
and enter into dialogue about HIV AIDS because LOW prevalence
does not necessarily mean NO threat. Sri Lanka like
other low prevalence countries must remain vigilant
to the threat of HIV AIDS.
It is interesting to note that AIDS
affects less than 0.1 per cent of Sri Lanka’s
population, among high risk groups, it affects less
than one per cent. The latest statistics show that up
to May 2007, a grand total of 872 persons had been diagnosed
as HIV positive, of whom 220 had developed AIDS and
162 had died.
Comparatively small as this figure
is in the international context of this great menace,
we will not pat ourselves on our backs. For, every death
is one too many. Every victim is one too many. Yet,
it is important and encouraging to note that as experts
see it, Sri Lanka will not have a general epidemic of
HIV AIDS in the country, although it has all the factors
normally conducive to a high escalation of AIDS victims.
This points to the importance of
policies that are directed against addiction to drugs,
as well as smoking and alcohol consumption, which are
generally considered the stepping stones to substance
abuse and addiction. Action to prevent such addiction,
comprise key aspects of the social policy of our government.
"Mathata Thitha" full stop to alcohol, tobacco
and drugs.
Internationally it is important that
speedy action is taken to ensure that the drugs to combat
this major hazard are readily available to those in
need. The new drugs that are being developed should
be readily available to the people who are in need as
well as to governments. This should not be and undue
strain on latter's budgets especially in the less develop
or poorer countries of the world.
Undoubtedly, it is essential that
wherever possible the State should join hands with the
private sector particularly the manufactures and marketers
of these drugs to ensure that they are available to
the people at reasonable and affordable prices. The
threat to the well – being of humanity posed by
HIV AIDS is such that it is necessary to re-think established
policies with regard to patents and ownership of essential
drugs and think in terms of more liberal policies that
are based on the needs of the people.
I invite all heads of governments
to join together in harmonizing our leadership approaches
across the Asia and Pacific region and improve the lot
of all our people in the face of the advancing danger
of HIV and AIDS. As a mark of such solidarity we must
join hands within our respective countries and across
borders throughout the Asia-Pacific region, to achieve
our objectives, in limiting and hopefully eliminating
the spread of HIV AIDS.
The challenge of HIV AIDS is so great
that we as political leaders must give it the highest
priority, because denial of the crisis can have serious
consequences on economic development, social advancement
and the very future our societies.
My government has given the highest
priority to the improvement of the health of our people.
By way of example, the budgetary provisions for health
have been increased to ensure a better quality of care
to the people of Sri Lanka. The health gains that Sri
Lanka has seen, as evidenced by the improving health
indicators, are a result of the positive social security
measures undertaken by successive governments such as
free health care and free education. Provision of free
care and treatment to all those living with HIV is the
policy of my government.
Prevention and control of HIV AIDS,
the care and treatment of people living with HIV, their
welfare and that of their families and children, the
upholding of their rights, the elimination of stigma
and discrimination, will continue to receive the highest
priority from the government. For I am, by virtue of
my religion, a firm believer in the Buddha’s noble
words “Arogya Parama Labha” meaning, as
most of you probably know, Good health is the greatest
gain.
In closing, I invite you warmly to
appreciate the beauty of our country and enjoy our traditionally
warm hospitality. And I enjoin you, as you leave our
shores, to take away the sentiments enshrined in this
timeless blessing – Ayubovan – May you have
the blessing of long life.
I wish this Congress all success
in its endeavours.
Thank you. |
