Mr. Speaker, the death toll on the African continent is rising every day, and I am not referring to floods and earthquakes.
The HIV-AIDS pandemic has already killed 21 million in Africa, mostly the young. It has now infected almost 26 million in sub-Saharan Africa, almost equivalent to the population of Canada. One thousand people per day die in Zimbabwe alone. In less than three months that would equate to every man, woman and child in my riding of Cumberland—Colchester.
In Botswana 36% of adults are infected. In another central African city 43% of all adults are infected. Of the global number of people infected by AIDS, 70% are on the African continent.
However, the numbers only tell half the story. The sick and dying have little care and money for medication and assistance.
The PC Party today urges the Minister of Foreign Affairs to put this issue on the front burner so that Canada can work with others to address this human catastrophe starting right now.