Mr. President,  The Commonwealth of Dominica welcomes this opportunity to participate in this United Nations special session devoted to the examination of HIV/AIDS in all its tragic dimensions and global ramifications.

The depressing statistics and horrifying magnitude of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are well known to all of us assembled here; there is therefore no need for further recitation. But there is urgent need for the international community to make a determined, committed and serious effort to arrest the alarming infection rates in those parts of the world least able to deal effectively with the problem. There is urgent need to begin, at once, to act with the resolve of the Millennium Summit so that we can achieve the reverse of the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. There is urgent and compelling need for us to marshal the forces and resources necessary to deal with what the Secretary-General has labeled the `greatest public health challenge of our times'.

Mr. President,  In small developing societies like the Commonwealth of Dominica the HIV/AIDS contagion is much more than a public health challenge. Already hampered by a severely limited financial and human resource base the rising incidence of the HIV/AIDS continues to undermine our development efforts on many fronts. With the highest rates of infection occurring in the 24-54 year old age group, the productive capacity of the country is being diminished simultaneously with greater demands on our meager financial resources, both private and public, for increased spending on care and facilities for the victims and to mitigate the devastating social and economic consequences of the disease.

Mr. President,  The first case of HIV infection was diagnosed in the Commonwealth of Dominica in 1987. Since then the virus has been identified in increasing numbers of persons with a shift from predominantly men who have sex with men to a more heterosexual mix so that the gender balance of infected persons has changed from almost exclusively male in the 1980's to a ratio of almost 2:1 male to female.

A comprehensive information and education campaign undertaken through the media, schools, and community groups has been in existence in Dominica since 1986 and this is being incorporated into the Health and Family Life Education Programme for schools. A National AIDS Committee charged with providing guidance to the Ministry of Health and Social Security and comprising government agencies, civil society, the private sector and religious organizations, has been in place since 1988.

Regionally, our efforts have been greatly assisted by the Caribbean Epidemiological Center (CAREC/PAHO) which is currently working with us to develop a five-year strategic plan to deal with the HIV/AIDS situation. The plan uses a multi-sectoral approach in line with guidelines from the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action approved by the CARICOM Heads of Government in July last year and it will be informed by successful programs from within the Caribbean region and beyond.

Despite our best national and regional efforts however, the rates of infection in the Caribbean are second only to Sub-Saharan Africa and Dominica ranks the second highest among the islands of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for persons infected with HIV. The simple fact is that much more is demanded of us if we are to realize some measure of success in the containment and eventful reversal of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Dominica and the Caribbean region; more in terms of greater capacity building; more for the implementation of innovative education programmes to effect behavioural change and to assist our young people in particular to fully understand their vulnerability to contracting HIV; more poverty reduction programmes; greater accessibility to more affordable drugs and treatment facilities.

Mr. President,  Small developing island states like Dominica cannot do it alone. The international community must be committed to the struggle. That is why we applaud the efforts of the Secretary-General in seeking to establish the global trust fund to fight AIDS and other infectious diseases. But early responses are not encouraging and they raise serious doubts with respect to the level of funding likely to be achieved. And the prospect of the poor receiving the full benefits of the fund are dimmed by the call to respect 'intellectual property rights' and adherence to the WTO rules. The affordability of drugs to the victim of HIV/AIDS in poor countries like Dominica must be one of the objectives of the fund, and therefore, producers of generic anti-AIDS drugs are essential to the success of the funding programmes. Mr. President, we cannot continue to elevate the excessive profits of the major pharmaceutical companies above the suffering of millions.

Mr. President,  The Commonwealth of Dominica is committed, at the highest level, to fighting HIV/AIDS. Bearing in mind the limited resources available nationally and regionally, the present infection rates and the difficulties encountered in effecting positive changes in attitude and behaviour, and recognizing the potential for an even more rapidly escalating crisis in the Caribbean region, the Commonwealth of Dominica calls upon the international community, and the industrial nations in particular to work seriously to achieve the goals and targets agreed to in the Declaration of Commitment.

Thank you, Mr. President.