Mr. Speaker, today is World AIDS Day, a day to remember the 42 million people who have died: our neighbours, friends and relatives.
AIDS is an ongoing pandemic. It used to be a death sentence, but the discovery of antiretrovirals has really changed everything, turning AIDS, when treated, into a chronic disease. Making these drugs affordable to millions of people worldwide has been one of the greatest scientific and humanitarian triumphs of all time, yet today our progress faces a grave threat as major donors slash international assistance and HIV funding.
The impact has been devastating. For example, in South Africa, treatment initiation has fallen 30%. The funding cuts could create a whole new wave of disease and tens of thousands more deaths. This is why our government's recent $1-billion pledge to the global fund is so welcome. As many wealthy nations backtrack on their commitments, we need to unite globally to ensure that decades of progress in fighting this terrible disease do not unravel.