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McMullan
Australia has committed to work with the Clinton Foundation to improve access to life-saving drugs for people living with HIV in Indonesia.
'HIV is one of the greatest threats to economic and social development in the Asia Pacific region,' said Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance.
'Australia is supporting the Clinton Foundation's work to increase the availability of affordable HIV treatment and diagnostic testing in Indonesia,' Mr McMullan said.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton Foundation, the Australian Government is providing up to $25 million to support the Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative in the Asia Pacific region from 2006 to 2010. Work funded through this agreement is already underway in Vietnam, China and Papua New Guinea
Mr McMullan signed the agreement for Indonesia with Mr Ira Magaziner, Chairman of the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative in Canberra today.
Australia's contribution of $3.9 million for Indonesia will be supplemented by Clinton Foundation funding.
This new contribution to the Clinton Foundation is one component of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for HIV. Over the next eight years, Australia will provide $100 million to prevent and limit the spread of HIV, to improve the quality of life for people living with the virus and to alleviate its socio-economic impacts in Indonesia.
The HIV epidemic in Indonesia is among the fastest growing in Asia. Approximately 170,000 people are infected with HIV and prevalence among adults is as high as 2.4 per cent in some provinces.
Media Contact: Sabina Curatolo (Mr McMullan's Office) 0400 318 205
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590