UK's new

UNAIDS has welcomed the new £1.5bn AIDS initiative announced by the UK's prime minister, Tony Blair.

It said the commitment, to spending at least £1.5bn over the next three years on HIV-related programmes: 'represents a tremendous step forward in the global effort to combat AIDS. The UNAIDS also applauds the strategy's strong focus on women, young people and orphans; often the most vulnerable groups.'

'UNAIDS welcomes the UK's new strategy on AIDS. This is a qualitative step forward, and demonstrates the scale of leadership needed if we are to turn this crisis around,' said Dr Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS. 'With its significantly increased financial contribution, the strategy reinforces the United Kingdom's position as a pre-eminent global AIDS funder.'

The £1.5bn initiative will add significantly to the growing pool of international funding aimed at challenging HIV. A critically important component of the new UK strategy is the recognition of the need for greater harmonisation of AIDS funding by donors. The UK co-hosted a meeting with UNAIDS and the USA in April this year to reach a groundbreaking agreement among the world's leading donors on the basic principles that underpin AIDS funding.