IP/07/1937
Brussels, 14 December 2007
Libya: Commission provides further assistance to HIV-AIDS victims in Benghazi The European Commission decided to make available €2 million in support of the EU HIV-AIDS Action Plan for Benghazi. Under this Action Plan medical treatment is provided to the victims of the HIV-AIDS infection in Benghazi. Furthermore, technical assistance is provided to the Benghazi Centre for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (BCIDI) so as to help this centre in reaching international standards. The EU Action Plan for Benghazi has been operational since 2005 and is co-funded by the Commission, many member States and private donors. It is a sign of solidarity of the EU towards the victims of the HIV-AIDS infection which started in Benghazi in 1998. Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: “When we negotiated the liberation of the Bulgarian nurses and of the Palestinian doctor, I promised that the European Union would ensure high quality treatment to the Benghazi children and that it would help Libya in taking appropriate measures in order to avoid similar tragedies from happening again. Through our contribution and those of a number of other donors we are fulfilling this promise.”
The EU Action Plan has radically improved the quality of medical and psychological treatment of the HIV-AIDS infected children. The programme has also introduced a new multidisciplinary, integrated approach towards HIV/AIDS treatment in Libya.
In addition to the acquisition of crucial equipment for the Benghazi Centre for Infectious Diseases and Immunology the training of doctors and nurses by experts in their field is an important component of the assistance provided. Further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/libya/index_en.htm
