Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell (right) and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. UNAIDS headquarters, 26 January 2011. Credit: UNAIDS

Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell met with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé at UNAIDS headquarters on 26 January. The UK government has pledged to put the wellbeing of women and children at the centre of its international aid policy.

Mr Mitchell, who leads the Department for International Development (DFID) stressed the need for efficiency, results and value for money from the AIDS response. Mr Sidibé shared his vision of the priorities of the AIDS response including the new UNAIDS Strategy. He highlighted how collective investments in AIDS have brought unprecedented results including increased access to treatment and the prevention of mothers from dying and babies being infected with HIV.