● <B>A few initiatives tend to show that the authorities are taking the fight against HIV/Aids more seriously and taking more effective action now than they did a few years ago. Do you agree? </B>

Yes and it makes us at the UN level very happy. The concerted efforts between the government, civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to mobilise the funds as well as all partners and to set up a framework to implement a response to the prevalence of HIV/Aids is positive. This determination has helped to implement some of the activities in the field.

● <B>What have the activities been so far? </B>

There has been an emergence of initiatives from both the government and NGOs including the introduction of the bill, the UNGAS report 2006, the 2006-2010 programme. All these programmes were set up and we have seen a positive response from the country itself. The contribution of the ministries of Social Security and Health in methadone treatment has been extremely important. We have also supported Pils with the conference it organised with the aim of better answering the needs of the country. Hence, there is a need to take stock of what has been done and what has yet to be done in the fight against HIV/Aids.

● <B> So, there is a need for all stakeholders to join forces?</B>

I believe that there needs to be a strong collaboration between all partners that target the same objective. Although each of them should work on its own in its particular field, they should be able to put together their analysis, energy, added value and resources to reach their goal. With this in mind, one of our aims is to implement the ?three principles? that have been validated at UN level to make the fight more effective. These ?three principles? are one institution for national coordination, one framework of national action and one institution for the follow-up. Of course, all stakeholders do a different job but, at some point in time, we should all stop and see how we can coordinate all actions. And we are quite satisfied with what is happening in Mauritius as it constitutes a fundamental basis for further action.

● <B>What is the exact role of UNAIDS in Mauritius? How does it interact with other partners involved in fighting HIV/Aids? </B>

UNAIDS is actually a United Nations programme that helps all other UN agencies to fight against HIV/Aids within a country. We also accompany the country ? government and civil society ? to make sure that the three principles are working (these principles being a major tool to obtain technical and financial resources). WHO has, for instance, assisted the government in the legal reform, UNAIDS has brought a foreign consultant to help the ministry of Health. This month, we are giving our support to a new NGO, MODAC, in its fight against drugs and criminality.

● <B>Before coming to Mauritius, what is the trend in the number of people infected with the virus worldwide? </B>

Please let me first seize this opportunity to recall the objective of the initiative for universal access to treatment and prevention as well as its implications for Mauritius and other countries. In 2005, there was an assessment at world level of the progress made in the control of HIV/Aids. The results were quite disappointing. Sensitised on this problem by the UN, the G8 that gathered for their summit in Scotland committed to increase their technical and financial support and agreed to provide 5 billion dollars every year until 2010 to allow countries to realise the millennium objectives ? especially objective n° 6. This objective says that countries should reverse the present trend, which is towards the progress of the epidemic. This initiative by the G8 showed that we were not going in the right direction and we should not go on doing ?business as usual?. Then, the G8 asked the UN to set up a programme to see how money could be spent most efficiently: this is what is called universal access.

?The minister of Health committed to review and eventually amend the bill so that it is no museum piece but a tool that everyone can use to prevent new infections and allow people to access treatment, information, recognition and other rights.

● <B>What does it mean in concrete terms for us? </B>

It was actually the occasion for many countries that do not have a high prevalence of the disease and high/middle income countries to benefit from financial support, which they are usually deprived of. Mauritius, for instance, did not have the basic requirements to benefit from traditional aid, as it did not have a high prevalence nor was it considered among the poorest countries? But we have had an explosion of the virus within the last few years and we needed help. Thanks to this universal access, Mauritius is now eligible for financial aid.

● <B>You were talking about an explosion of the virus in Mauritius?</B>

The government has fortunately had a quick reaction and rung the alarm bell immediately. The epidemic is low in Mauritius but it is progressing very rapidly. We have already been able to determine the sections of the population that are the most affected and vulnerable and those who contribute to propagating the virus. Of course, injecting drug users ? with the risk of sharing their needles ? present more risks. But, since it is a complex epidemic, other people are also vulnerable. We are also experiencing a feminisation of the epidemic. This in no way means that it is a feminine epidemic as is the case in other Sub-Saharan African countries. But women are increasingly being contaminated. With this in mind, we are working in collaboration with the council of religions to develop a project to address, among other issues, the problem of female vulnerability, as we thought there were not enough partners involved in fighting that aspect of the problem.

● <B>You mention the rapid reaction of the government? What led to such a change of attitude? </B>

There has been constant progress by both NGOs and the authorities for the past ten years. And this should get even stronger? Each stakeholder has its own responsibility and that of NGOs is to attract the country?s attention to a certain number of problems. Then, the authorities are there to provide them with an answer to the problem.

● <B>The HIV/Aids Preventive Measures Bill was introduced in Parliament recently? Are you satisfied with its content? </B>

Yes, we are satisfied because this draft has been reviewed more than three times with the support of civil society, UNAIDS, and an international consultant. We are satisfied because some sections of this bill will allow the country to implement risk reduction for injecting drug users. We are even more satisfied because the minister of Health made it clear that it is not the last version of such a bill. He committed to review and eventually amend the bill so that it is no museum piece but a tool that everyone can use to prevent new infections and allow people to access treatment, information, recognition and other rights. This bill, like all other programmes or activities, is far from being an ultimate objective ? they are only tools to achieve the final aim that is: to allow all people infected with the disease to get proper information, treatment, but also a job and protection from any sort of discrimination. These tools are very important but using them to eradicate the virus is even more important!

<B>PM commits to take action</B>

?I do not believe in committees that meet at all times of the day.

I believe in action. The secretariat that will be opened at the prime minister?s office will give some hope to all those living with HIV/Aids,? declared the prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, at the exhibition on HIV/Aids organised by the ministry of Health. This secretariat is aimed at helping all those living with the disease. Moreover, the PM said, now that the project of substitution treatment with methadone has been launched, it is time for the needle exchange programme to start. ?We will implement this programme with the HIV and AIDS Preventive Measures Bill,? he asserted. Pils, which was invited to the exhibition and given a stand, boycotted the function because it considers the government has not kept its promises and commitments especially concerning the National Aids Committee that has met only twice since the new government came to power?