AIDSfree Cities Global Forum: Politicians and medical experts meeting to work on Aids-free future
Politicians and medical experts from across the world are meeting in London to develop plans on tackling HIV together to create an Aids-free future
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Your support makes all the difference.The AIDSfree Cities Global Forum, at The Conduit, Mayfair, is the climax of the campaign by the Independent, the Evening Standard and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
It will focus on the UN’s “90-90-90” targets, which aim to inform at least 90 per cent of people with HIV of their status, get 90 per cent of them on treatment and 90 per cent virally suppressed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and hosting the delegates, who include civic leaders from the six key cities focussed on during the AIDSfree appeal – Kiev, Delhi, Atlanta, Maputo, Nairobi and London.
Follow our live coverage of the forum HERE
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of today's AIDSfree Cities Global Forum.
Ahead of the start of the conference, let's look back to the beginning of the AIDSfree campaign at the start of December and re-visit the words of Sir Elton John and Evening Standard and Independent proprietor Evgeny Lebedev outlining the aims:
Dear London,
As we write, 37 million people globally are living with HIV. Last year alone, 1.8 million people contracted the virus and 940,000 died of an Aids-related illness. This need not happen.
Today’s medicines not only enable those living with HIV to have full and fulfilling lives, but also ensure they cannot pass the virus on to others.
The challenge is that too many people still do not realise they are at risk, are too afraid of the stigma or are denied the chance of taking an HIV test.
That is why we are raising awareness in cities around the world to combat the shame associated with HIV; to promote safe, affordable testing; and to help link people who need HIV treatment to the right care.
The theme of World Aids Day on Saturday — the 30th year of the international awareness campaign — was “know your status”.
Why? Because everyone should understand the risks of HIV, and everyone who needs it should have the chance of dignified help and support.
That can only happen if we know our status.
Let’s make HIV testing normal and break the stigma that still surrounds the virus.
Let’s together reach all those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/Aids.
Let’s get them the help they need and ensure no one is left behind, wherever they may live and whoever they may be, so that we can truly create an Aids-free future.
With love and thanks,
Elton and Evgeny
Ahead of the event, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, wrote about why it is vital his city plays its role in tackling stigma and wiping out HIV forever.
International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, and Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, are due to speak shortly to the global delegates assembled at The Conduit, Mayfair, for today's conference.
Paul Van Zyl, founder of The Conduit club, is speaking to a packed audience, saying the conference is the "ideal" conversation to host.
A short film has been shown exploring the work of the Elton John AIDS foundation. Now Matt Hancock is taking the stage.
Mr Hancock has hailed the strides the UK has made in combatting AIDS over the past few decades, and noted the first UK public awareness campaign on AIDS launched by then-health secretary Norman Fowler in the 1980s, Don't Die of Ignorance.
The Health Secretary is now announcing his intention for the Government to work to ensure that the UK has no new cases of HIV by 2030.
He said: "I am delighted to announce today that we will be supporting and adding funding to this campaign.
"Today we are setting a new goal: eradicating HIV transmission in England by 2030.
"It will involve solutions from the ultra local to the global... we plan to go from Don't Die of Ignorance to an AIDS-free world."
The global goal is being backed by both the Health and International Development Government budgets.
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt took to the stage after the Health Secretary. She told the audience: “While the world has made great strides in tackling HIV and AIDS we need to step up our efforts.
“The battle is far from over, especially in poorer countries where stigma, lack of awareness and a scarcity of life-saving medicines remain.
“AIDS is still the biggest killer of women of reproductive age around the world, and every week about 7,000 young women are infected with HIV.
“UK Aid Match means that every time the British public donate to the AIDSfree appeal, we match their donations pound for pound and their generosity goes twice as far.
"Today is about celebrating success and driving action. I applaud you all for your leadership, commitment and productive action.
"The scale of our ambition is clear, we all passionately believe we can create an AIDS free future for the world, and I know that we are going to."
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