British Prime Minister David Cameron has recorded a poignant
message of support to mark World AIDS Day.
Wearing a red ribbon, the Conservative party leader made the film
for the official World AIDS Day website.
Currently, more than 90,000 people are currently living with HIV
in the UK and globally an estimated 33.3 million people have HIV.
More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from
the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in
history.
"Today, World Aids Day, is about three things: reflection,
action and hope," he says.
"First it's about reflection, as we think about all those who
have been lost to HIV, more than 25 million people since 1981, and
all those who are living with it today. Here in the UK, it's around
90,000 people.
"Across the world, it's estimated at more than 34 million
people, each one of them experiencing their own fears and
uncertainty about the future. Wearing the red ribbon is about
showing solidarity and reflecting on the scale of the challenge we
face."
He adds: "But today has got to be about action. Individuals,
charities, campaigners and governments working together to address
HIV and AIDS.
"This government is fully signed up to these efforts, at home
and abroad. Because we're meeting our international aid promises,
we're able to make a big difference overseas.
"In sub-Saharan Africa, we're helping to prevent half a million
HIV infections amongst women. By supporting the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, TB and malaria, we're enabling 37,000 HIV-positive
women to prevent transmission to their babies and giving 268,000
people access to life-saving treatment.
"Here at home we're ensuring that the NHS continues to provide
people with excellent prevention, treatment, care and support and
we're funding and working with specialist charities like the
Terence Higgins Trust, the African Health Policy Network and the
National AIDS Trust to make sure we reach those groups that are the
most vulnerable to infection.
"We are well aware how urgent the task is."
Labour leader Ed Miliband and Depiuty Prime Minister, Nick
Clegg, also made videos which can be seen on the official World
AIDS Day site.
Watch the video here:
