London Challenge as HIV Capital

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 2nd Dec 2003

Following World Aids day London's LibDem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford is urging Londoners to support poor countries tackling HIV/Aids - but not just to treat it as a 'Third World' problem.

The UN is appealing for $5 billion for its '3 by 5' initiative - to get lifesaving drugs to 3 million HIV/Aids sufferers by 2005 - and this sum represents only $5 per rich country resident.

At the same time, 17,000 people live with the virus in London; this is 60% of all UK sufferers. If the current rate of increase continues there will be 50,000 within 5 years.

"We must give generously to help combat this terrible disease in poor countries. We could afford to donate to the UN appeal just by using European cooperation to

shave a bit off the $150 billion annually EU countries spend on defence."

"But there is no excuse for Londoners dying through ignorance or poverty. Frank safe sex education, with more emphasis on respect and protection for ourselves and others, are the key to prevention in London as well as in Lagos."

Notes

Information on rates of diagnosed HIV individuals by London Borough is below:

LA NAME - 2002 Total - Population - Rate per 10,000

Lambeth - 1603 - 266791 - 60.1

Camden - 994 - 198432 - 50.1

Kensington and Chelsea - 793 - 159147 - 49.8

Southwark - 1202 - 245416 - 49.0

Hammersmith and Fulham - 796 - 165476 - 48.1

Westminster - 863 - 181691 - 47.5

Islington - 801 - 176103 - 45.5

Newham - 883 - 244291 - 36.1

Hackney - 729 - 203352 - 35.8

Haringey - 756 - 216809 - 34.9

City of London - 25 - 7216 - 34.6

Lewisham - 705 - 249451 - 28.3

Tower Hamlets - 550 - 196630 - 28.0

Wandsworth - 683 - 260847 - 26.2

Waltham Forest - 469 - 218649 - 21.4

Brent - 558 - 263805 - 21.2

Greenwich - 423 - 215238 - 19.7

Croydon - 631 - 331530 - 19.0

Hounslow - 333 - 212668 - 15.7

Ealing - 438 - 301553 - 14.5

Merton - 258 - 188348 - 13.7

Barnet - 401 - 315267 - 12.7

Enfield - 337 - 274343 - 12.3

Barking and Dagenham - 195 - 164346 - 11.9

Redbridge - 252 - 239329 - 10.5

Richmond upon Thames - 157 - 172808 - 9.1

Kingston upon Thames - 119 - 147625 - 8.1

Harrow - 165 - 207988 - 7.9

Hillingdon - 185 - 243052 - 7.6

Sutton - 117 - 180174 - 6.5

Bromley - 162 - 296155 - 5.5

Bexley - 108 - 218756 - 4.9

Havering - 60 - 224720 - 2.7

Not Known - 212

Total - 16963 - 7188006