Grandmothers rally in Vancouver

Patt McGuire/Photo

From left; Olga Virley, Julie Gleadow, Robin McGuire and Marj Brown were part of the Sunshine Coast Grandmothers & GrandOthers who joined others from southwestern B.C. at a rally in Vancouver on Sunday, June 14 in solidarity with African grandmothers who are raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS.

Members of the Sunshine Coast Grandmothers & GrandOthers joined others from southwestern B.C. at a rally in Vancouver on Sunday, June 14 in solidarity with African grandmothers who are raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS.

The rally, one of many being held across the country, was held to urge the federal government to follow through with its 2004 unanimous vote in the House of Commons to support a steady flow of affordable, lifesaving generic medicines to developing countries.

So far, due to logistical difficulties with the legislation, only one shipment of these lifesaving drugs has left Canada. The Canadian HIV/Aids Legal Network estimates that there are 2.3 million children under the age of 15 infected with HIV and in the developing world, one in two dies before reaching his or her second birthday.

Every day matters. Grandmothers are urging members of Parliament to support two private members’ bills designed to reform this legislation and get these medicines to people who need them as quickly as possible.

—Submitted

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