IN 2005, the Government promised to achieve universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support for all people by 2010. This promise is being broken. According to World Vision, a charity I support, only one in seven children with HIV

IN 2005, the Government promised to achieve universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support for all people by 2010. This promise is being broken.

According to World Vision, a charity I support, only one in seven children with HIV in developing countries can access the drugs they need to stay alive and 12.3 million children - the same as the child population of the UK - have lost one or both parents to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Across the world 8,000 people die every day from AIDS-related illnesses, a tragedy and injustice that, with access to appropriate drugs, care and support, could be prevented.

The Government is currently developing a new strategy to tackle the epidemic. And for this World AIDS Day, December 1, I would like to urge every reader to write to his or her MP calling on them to ask the Government to commit the necessary resources to the strategy and assign at least 10 per cent of all HIV and AIDS funding for children affected by AIDS.

Today, keeping these promises is a matter of life or death for millions. To write to the Government, go to www.worldvision.org.uk/campaign.

CHRISTINE LEONARD, Prince Close, St Neots