Estonia: A budget-freeze aimed at social needs for 2008
From the organizations struggling against HIV and AIDS and communities of people living with HIV.
PUBLIC APPEAL: On the 20th June 2007 an article appeared in the media concerning the Estonian Governments plans to reduce the funding allocations for 2008 for the care, treatment and support of people living with HIV and AIDS. The result of this action would be to reduce the commitment to HIV services up to seven times less than had been previously planned. It was said that the resources should be allotted to other social areas such as children's homes, disability services and emergency workers.
Participants of the NGO Advocacy seminar, where different organizations struggling against HIV/AIDS took part, agreed to address a public appeal to the state and political leaders, and to appeal to all organizations and individuals who are concerned about HIV/AIDS, who do realize how many lives we will loose through decisions that are ill advised, fail to recognize the danger to society from HIV and AIDS and pay too little attention to the experience of other countries in responding to HIV and AIDS.
The reduction of money resources for the treatment leaves hundred of young people to the mercy of fate and insouciant contrasting of different social groups, who need social help, and only intensifies the present stigma and discrimination of living with HIV.
We would like to remind the government some facts:
• The strategy has been approved by the government concerning the fight against HIV/AIDS for the years of 2006-2015, and the state operation programme of the strategy above for the 200-2009, that is why the full responsibility for financing the programme rests with the state.
• During the Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organizations on HIV/AIDS in 2001 Estonia together with the other members of UNO approved the Declaration concerning the adherence to the struggle with HIV/AIDS, under which an access to treatment must be guaranteed. Everyone has a right to treatment.
• The Minister of Social Affairs gave a promise on 23.02.2007 to the representative of the Global Fund, which is involved in the response to fight the diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria, to continue financing treatment at the same level, once the Global Fund stops it's financing.
Continuous treatment is not only a requirement for the effective management of HIV and AIDS, it also improves the quality of lives for people living with HIV and gives them an opportunity to be a full member of the community and a tax-payer. Continuous treatment prevents the possibility of the appearance of the resistant forms of the virus and its' spreading.
The disease that affects in the first place our young people threatens our future state, the increase of population and national security. The qualitative, consistent and preventive work gives an opportunity to secure people from the further spreading of the virus and our nation from the downfall.
Estonia as a member of the European Union with the highest number of new detected infections is not entitled to abandon its' responsibilities to realize and to expand the preventive work and to secure anti-virus treatment to all indigent people living with HIV-AIDS.
The reduction of financing now will lead to repeated and increased expenses' from all parts of the community in the future.
Here is the list of the organizations who have signed and joined the appeal:
1. NGO AIDS Information & Support Center, Juri Kalikov, Director, CCM Member
2. Estonian Network of People Living with HIV, PLWH, Igor Sobolev, CCM Member
3. NGO Estonian Association Against AIDS, Ph Ljudmilla Priimjagi, the Member of the State Commission of HIV/AIDS, CCM Member
4. Nelli Kalikova, the Member of the State Commission of HIV/AIDS and of CCM, AIDS Information & Support Center, consultant.
5. NGO Estonian Gay League
6. Health Center Elulootus, Irina Mironova, nurse, CCM Member
7. Estonian Community of People Living with HIV, ESPO, Vjatseslav Vassiljev, CCM Member
8. NGO Support Center for Chilhren and Families in Virumaa , Vladislava Vasechkina
9. AIDS Prevention Center, Milvi Noode, Doctor-specialist
10. Estonian Institut for Human Rights, Merle Aruoja, Chairman, Secretary
11. NGO Convictus Eesti, Julija VInkler, Manager
12. NGO Association of Sexual Health , Marko Nurmet
13. NGO Eluliin, Advisory Centre ATOLL, Edda Melder, Chairman
14. NGO The Centre of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Alcoholics and Drug addicts "You won't be alone"
15. Terve Eesti Sihtasutus, Riina Raudne r
16. The Rehabilitation centre of Narva, Tatjana Magerova, CCM Member
17. LIGO NGO, Life is Going On, Estonian Association of Women Against HIV and AIDS, Dr. Irina Moroz.
If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact:
LIGO NGO, Life Is Going On, Estonian Association of Women Against HIV and AIDS
Address: Mardi 3 10145, Tallinn
E-mail: info@ligo.org.ee
Read the full public appeal