Cyprus Signs MOU with UNITAID

A Memorandum of Understanding is being signed today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Cyprus and UNITAID, said the government today.

The Memorandum was signed at 11am by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Nicholas Emiliou, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Executive Board of UNITAID, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy as well as by the Executive Secretary of UNITAID Mr Jorge Bermudez.

By signing the Memorandum, Cyprus will be actively participating in UNITAID with a contribution of 2,5 million euros, or 400,000 euros per year over a six year period.

UNITAID is an international innovative financing mechanism, set up to accelerate the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries. Founded in 2006 by the Governments of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, it aims at creating ‘healthy markets for medicines’ which will facilitate access to drugs and treatments in developing countries.

By joining UNITAID the Republic of Cyprus reiterates its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and actively contributes to international efforts to address current global development challenges, it said.