The APPG on HIV and AIDS is pleased to announce the election of its new Chair, Pamela Nash, MP for Airdrie and Shotts.

Pamela has been a member of the All Party Group since she was elected to the House of Commons in May 2010, and in January this year accompanied David Cairns to Kenya and Uganda, where they visited clinics trialling HIV vaccines and met with Parliamentarians to discuss issues around HIV and AIDS. Pamela has been active in raising issues surrounding the abuse of sexual minorities with both the Foreign Office and DFID, and is very keen to continue the work that David did in championing the issues facing people living with HIV in both the UK and overseas in parliament.

Pamela said:

“I’m delighted to have been elected as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDs. The group is an excellent platform to raise awareness of the key issues affecting people living with HIV and AIDS within parliament. David Cairns worked tirelessly to highlight these issues, and particularly the problems facing groups at high risk of contracting HIV. I am honoured to have the opportunity to carry on this vitally important work in his memory.

At a time when funding for HIV has fallen globally, and HIV infection rates are rising in the UK, the work of the APPG is more crucial than ever. The international community made bold commitments at the UN last week to provide HIV treatment for 15 million people by 2015, but we need to ensure that these promises are kept.

The APPG has a strong history of cross- party campaigning on important issues such as raising awareness of late diagnosis of HIV in the UK, ensuring access to medicines for people living with HIV, and championing human rights, and I intend to continue this leadership in my role as Chair.”