Thank you Mr. President,
I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Two years ago, the Marshall Islands participated in the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly and joined in declaring a global commitment to address the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Not long ago, HIV/AIDS was considered a new, alarming disease affecting countries outside the Pacific. Today, HIV/AIDS has crossed all borders. It is now a major concern for the countries of the Pacific region, including the Marshall Islands.
The number of registered cases in the Marshall Islands may be low in comparison to many areas of the world. However, with a very small population and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, the risk of the virus spreading is a matter of great concern to our government and our people. The potential social and economic consequences pose a particularly grave threat to small island communities such as our own.
The vulnerability of our people to risk of infection is intensified due to various factors, including high mobility within and across our borders, risky lifestyle choices of our high-percentage population of youth, and traditional cultural barriers that prevent open discussion about sexual behaviors.
Mr. President,
Although the Marshall Islands is a small country, the spread of the population across many remote islands presents an additional challenge in terms of reaching the groups most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS – women and children. In attempting to reach all members of the community, but particularly those most vulnerable groups, we have focused our efforts on increasing local community participation in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. We encourage the active, ongoing involvement of NGOs, churches, women’s groups and other stakeholders.
Mr. President,
The Marshall Islands has a public health system with very limited capabilities, stemming from restricted financial resources, a lack of adequate infrastructure, and a weak technical capacity. Because of restricted laboratory facilities, blood samples must be sent out of the country for testing, a process that is far too time-consuming considering the rapid pace at which the virus can spread. There is also an urgent need for medical staff to receive training on HIV/AIDS treatment, care and prevention.
Like in many other small developing countries, the costs of effectively combating HIV/AIDS are more than our struggling health system can sustain. We appeal to countries with experience in combating the disease to share experiences on best practices, and to offer financial and technical assistance to developing countries in need of medical resources, capacity-building, staff training and policy development.
Mr. President,
Among the many health concerns in the Marshall Islands, HIV/AIDS poses the biggest threat. The government of the Marshall Islands is committed to addressing this threat by enhancing its efforts to develop and implement appropriate health, education and social policies. We would welcome assistance from the international community in this regard. Despite the many challenges faced at the national and local levels, the Marshall Islands reaffirms its commitment to support global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
Thank you.
