$5 million to assist Pacific island nations develop and implement country-specific HIV/AIDS prevention

Australia will provide $5 million for a Pacific HIV/AIDS Grant Scheme to assist Pacific island nations develop and implement country-specific HIV/AIDS prevention and information campaigns.

The scheme is part of Australia's broader regional HIV/AIDS program, designed to reduce the spread of the disease and mitigate the effects on people living with HIV/AIDS.

The establishment of the grant scheme demonstrates Australia's partnership with our Pacific neighbours. We recognise that the Asia-Pacific region could become the new epicentre of the global pandemic if vigorous and effective responses are not strengthened and increased.

The scale of the challenge needs to be clearly understood - with one million new infections last year, there are now 7.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific.

That is why Australia is intensifying efforts to tackle the looming HIV/AIDS crisis in our region by more than doubling our funding - to $600 million by 2010 - to combat the virus and prevent an African-style tragedy.

Pacific countries must not underestimate the severity of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS. The disease impacts on every level of society. It is one of the greatest threats to the economic and social development, stability, and security of developing countries.

Australia is working with our Pacific neighbours to put in place effective and practical programs to ensure the region does not succumb to this terrible disease.

Strong and visible leadership at all levels and sectors of government and civil society in the Pacific is critical if the impact of HIV/AIDS is to be minimised.

Australia's Special Representative on HIV/AIDS, Ms Annmaree O'Keeffe, is in Fiji today to launch the scheme which is available to Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Nauru.