WITH HAART
...the HAART programme is a successful
treatment scheme for HIV/AIDS...
I
Commitment
Heineken's contribution
Last summer, the fifteenth International AIDS Conference was
held in Bangkok, Thailand. Inspired by its theme 'Access for All',
twenty thousand representatives from governments,
multinationals, NGOs and the scientific world shared their
knowledge and experiences in order to find ways to fight the
increasing problem of the AIDS epidemic throughout the world.
Heineken participated so as to learn from others and share the
success of its HAART programme.
The fifteenth International AIDS Conference was set to link commu
nity and science to galvanise the world's response to HIV/AIDS
through increased commitment, leadership and accountability.
Over the years, knowledge gained from basic, clinical and social
research has been critical in its contribution to greatly increasing
the life expectancy and quality of life of affected and infected
persons. Moreover, prevention efforts have succeeded in reducing
the rate of new infections in many populations around the world,
though there is still much work to be done. As a result, it is now
clearer than ever that progress in the fight against this pandemic
will depend not only on scientific developments, educational
programmes and community support, but on a commitment to
act globally.
At the highest political levels, the magnitude and impact of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic is falling out of focus as the world responds to
terrorism, war and a poor economy. The funding for many HIV/AIDS
programmes has shifted with the change in focus. To counter this,
the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS
(UNGASS) Declaration of Commitment secured a global
commitment from world leaders to enhance and intensify
national, regional and international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in
a comprehensive manner.
Twenty years of promises, and still the pandemic continues to
escalate in many parts of the world, particularly among poor and
vulnerable populations. Access to new diagnostic and therapeutic
strategies is available to only an extremely small percentage of
at-risk and affected people. All parties involved should be held
accountable for whatever promises they make, if the effort to
fight the disease is ever to be successful.
Heineken has a clear interest in fighting HIV/AIDS. We invest heavily
in our workforce throughout the world. AIDS causes an increase
in cost, a decrease in productivity and loss of qualified personnel.
Not to mention the grief and personal drama of people who are
infected or affected by the disease. Heineken's HIV/AIDS policy is
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