MPs and the Government pledged their support for a campaign to end mother to child transmission of HIV in the developing world by 2015 at a special World AIDS Day event in Parliament, organised by (RED) and the APPG on HIV and AIDS.
Andy Love MPBill Esterson MPClare Perry MPDavid Cairns MPJulie Hilling MPMichael McCann MPRt Hon Douglas Alexander MPRussell Brown MP inside busThe UN team outside parliamentTim Farron MPTom Greatrex MPTony Lloyd MPYasmin Qureshi MP

Nearly half a million babies are born HIV positive each year or acquire in the first months of life through their mothers breast milk. However this is entirely preventable – if an HIV positive mother takes the right medicines she can be virtually sure of having an HIV negative baby.

“Every HIV positive parent should be able to access the medicines they need for their own health and to prevent transmission from mother to child.” said David Cairns MP, chair of the APPG.

International Development Minister, Stephen O’Brien MP used the occasion to announce government backing for the campaign to end mother to child transmission by 2015

“I wholeheartedly support this campaign and this government will continue to fund programmes that help to eliminate these completely avoidable infections by providing treatment to mothers with HIV.” he said. The Minister's full speech can be viewed on the DFID website.

Stop AIDS Campaigner, Diarmaid McDonald welcomed the announcement saying, “We are thrilled the Government supports us. We hope they will show their commitment to the issue by giving their fair share donation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. With the right money, the government could make this incredible goal of no more babies born with HIV possible”

David Cairns MP, Chair of the APPG, with DiarmaidEsnart Mwila from Zambia and Minister O'BrienHazel Blears MP with Diarmaid of the Stop AIDS CampaignJulain Huppert MP with DiarmaidMinister Stephen O'Brien MP gives his speechPauline Latham MP with DiarmaidPauline Latham MP with EsnartRussell Brown MP, Veronica, Pauline Latham MPSiobhain McDonagh MP with DiarmiadTom Harris MP with Kola from TearfundYoung mum Esnart tells her story

MPs and guests heard from a young woman at the event, Esnart Mwila, who has herself experienced the value of HIV medicines. Ms Mwila, 30, lost her first baby to AIDS because she couldn’t access the right treatment. Her second baby however is healthy and HIV negative, because the second time round she did have the right drugs.

“It really tears me up. I keep counting back the years and I know today he would be like twelve years old.” Said Esnart Mwila of her first child, “But I have a negative child, Jasmine who really makes me happy.”

“Its better when a mother is HIV positive to ensure the child is negative because then you only have one health problem to handle.” She added.

Esnart was visiting parliament to back the campaign and to call for UK funding to help more people like her through the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The event was organised by (RED) which was set up to raise money from the private sector to help eliminate AIDS in Africa and The All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS. (RED) is the largest private sector contributor to the Global Fund.