Cologne/Bremen. Dr. Peter Schmitz, Chief Medical Officer of Malteser International, will represent the demands of Malteser International in the fight against HIV/AIDS on the occasion of the Ministerial Conference 'Partnership and Responsibility - Together Against HIV/AIDS' from 12 to 13 March in Bremen: 'The political authorities finally have to take on responsibility and provide adequate funds for the fight against AIDS.' Representatives of 25 countries of the EU and the eastern neighbouring countries will meet for the conference to discuss the role of the political leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Today, about 39.5 million people live with the HI virus. To combat the immune deficiency disease, a strong rise in the vocational training and employment of specialised staff is urgently necessary, Schmitz continues. 'The demand for qualified personnel for the education, counselling and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients highly exceeds the capacities of the services.' Furthermore, the adequate supply with AIDS medication is essential for a successful treatment: 'Right now, only 25 percent of 6.8 million AIDS patients worldwide receive the necessary medication. In 2010, we expect a number of nine million patients', Schmitz explains. In order to fulfil the promise made in Gleneagles in 2005, namely to ensure the access to AIDS medication for every patient, there is still a lot to do on the side of the political authorities.

'AIDS is not only a medical problem or a problem in terms of health policy but rather a problem concerning the whole society', Schmitz points out. 16 million children worldwide became orphans or half-orphans due to AIDS. Usually, the grandparents take the children and raise them. Many children and youth are forced to work after the death of their parents and therefore can no longer attend school: 'These children urgently need a perspective in order to escape the vicious circle of HIV and poverty', Schmitz demands.

At present, Malteser International runs extensive health care programmes in order to fight HIV/AIDS in eight countries of Asia and Africa. Measures to stem the HIV/AIDS pandemic are combined with special programmes to combat illnesses such as tuberculosis, which frequently arise in relation to HIV/AIDS. The organisation is also involved in the fight against the pandemic as a member of the 'Action against AIDS Germany' network.

Attention editorial offices! Dr. Peter Schmitz, Chief Medical Officer of Malteser International, is available for interviews. Please contact: +49 221 9822 155.

Pictures are available for download under: www.malteser.de > Aktuelles > Aktuelle Bilder zum Download.

In order to reduce the suffering of the people infected with HIV/AIDS, Malteser International is in urgent need of donations:

Donation Account 120 120 120 Bank fuer Sozialwirtschaft, Woerthstr.15-17, D-50668 Koeln Sort Code 370 205 00, IBAN : DE49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01, BIC: BFSWDE33XXX Reference: 'AIDS programmes'

For more Information please contact: Petra Ipp, Senior Desk Officer Communication, Malteser International Phone: +49-221-9822-155, Fax +49-221/9822-179; petra.ipp@malteser-international.org; www.malteser-international.org