Sweden's efforts to fight AIDS

Sweden has designated the fight against HIV/AIDS as a central focus of its development aid policy and is investing heavily on prevention in the fight against the killer disease in the developing countries.

But as countries around the world finally pour millions into the cause - coordination of the prevention efforts sometimes takes second place - with money being wasted - despite the best intentions.

In the run-up to international aids day - and the 25th anniversary of the first confirmed case of HIV, senior representatives of aid organisations around the world gathered in Stockholm to compare notes on strategies in the international fight against HIV/AIDS.

Radio Sweden's Azariah Kiros takes up the story.

Adrienne Germaine is the President of the International Women's Health Coalition in the United States. She has worked for more than three decades in the promotion of women's opportunities, health and rights in developing countries.

Adrienne Germaine is also one of the driving forces behind the worldwide project called the Global Initiative intended to highlight the problems faced by women in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And she says international and national campaigns against HIV/AIDS have failed to protect and empower women.

"Sweden has been at the forefront in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The Scandinavian nation even has appointed a full-fledged ambassador to coordinate the country's fight against HIV/AIDS."

Ambassador Lennart Hjelmåker has held the post for the last three. He feels there is a lack of political leadership in some countries when it comes to confronting realities.

"The Swedish organisation for global cooperation, the Swedish International Development Agency, SIDA supports HIV/AIDS programmes in a number of countries."

Adrienne Germaine says the SIDA support has played a key role in the global fight against the killer disease.

"Traditions and customs have also proved major obstacles in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. In some countries girls as young as ten are given in marriage to men who are old enough to be their grand fathers."

Adrienne Germaine says this is why it is important to spread the word among young people of the need and possibilities to protect themselves.

"There has been a heated debate among the non-governmental organisations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS about the priorities. Some civic and religious organisations in the U.S.and other countries supported by the Bush administration have been advocating sexual abstinence while other organisations argue that those who suffer most have not been benefiting from the available treatment and medication."

But Sweden's Ambassador against HIV/AIDS says both are needed.

Adrienne Germaine is convinced that the fight against HIV/AIDS in the developing countries will not bear much fruit unless women are equally empowered as men.

"Men have the necessary contraceptives to protect themselves. But women are left vulnerable simply because the pharmaceutical industry and the international community have not paid any attention to the need to provide women with their own contraceptives. But there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Adrienne Germaine of the International Women's Health Coalition in the United States says efforts are being made to develop different types of female contraceptives.

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