HIV/Aids, Malaria and other diseases

Cost-effective cures for HIV, malaria and tuberculosis exist and yet these life-saving medicines are not getting to the people who need them the most. Most rich countries can provide HIV treatment to everyone who needs it. But in poorer countries, almost two thirds of adults – and even fewer children - cannot get the life-saving treatment they desperately need.

Why? For a start 74% of AIDS medicines are monopolised by the companies that originally produced them. That means that unless people pay vast amounts of money they have to go without.

The statistics are staggering. In countries hit hardest by the HIV epidemic, the rights of millions are being affected. Most people living with HIV do not receive life-saving medicine, schools are losing their teachers due to illness and death, and children affected by HIV and AIDS are often deprived of their right to be a child.

More than one million people die from malaria every year, 90% of those deaths occur in Africa.

And globally 2 billion people are affected by tuberculosis – that’s one third of the world’s population.

These diseases are big killers and the impact on the developing world is devastating.

But there are simple, cost effective measures. Nets to protect from Malaria cost less than a couple of pints down the pub and a year’s supply of HIV drugs cost just $140.

World leaders promised to deliver universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010, but we are less than half way there.

The Robin Hood Tax could raise billions every year to make sure all children and adults have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.