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
Kenya has the fourth largest HIV epidemic globally. Nairobi has reduced from 24 per cent to six per cent prevalence in two decades.
He explained: "We do not have enough money to tackle all the problems, but we are doing the best we can."
Atlanta representative Rob Pitts, who is Chariman of Fulton County Board of Commissioners, is addressing the conference on behalf of himself and Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance-Bottoms, committing the city to achieving the global 90:90:90 targets.
He explained how Atlanta is a world capital for sex trafficking and HIV/AIDS.
The conference is focusing on the UN’s “90-90-90 targets”. They aim to:
- Get at least 90 per cent of people with HIV knowing their status
- Get 90 per cent of these on treatment
- Make sure 90 per cent to have an “undetectable viral load” where the levels of virus in the blood are so low it cannot be passed on.
London has already achieved this goal but aims to go even further. The five other cities in our campaign - Atlanta, Nairobi, Maputo, Delhi and Kiev - are working hard to meet the targets.
Representatives from Atlanta, Nairobi and London - three of our key cities - have just signed a symbolic declaration of intent to meet the 90:90:90 targets alongside Jose Zuniga of IAPAC and Tim Martineau of UNAIDS.
Lelio Marmora, Executive Director of UNITAID, has addressed the conference about the huge developments in self-testing for HIV - and its implementation around the world in partnership with organisations like the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has a "huge voice".
The conference is hearing from delegates about their programmes combatting AIDS around the world.
Here are some of the stories from our appeal's Fast Track Cities:
Governer Mike Sonko of Nairobi, Kenya, has shared shots from the conference as the audience hear an additional $1.5 billion dollars is required to combat AIDS globally
Garry Brough, Interim joint CEO at Positively UK, told the conference the two months coverage of "success stories" about HIV and AIDS published in the Evening Standard and The Independent has created an overdue "nurturing atmosphere".
Read Garry's inspirational story here:
Evening Standard editor, George Osborne, is addressing the conference. He said: "With your help we have run our most successful campaign, we have changed government policy here in this country, we have raised awareness that this is a challenge, a disease, we can do something about. We have got more people aware of their own status, and I just hope we have made your lives easier in the end.
"We will be long term partners with you... the fight goes on."
Last night, the Lord Speaker hosted the international delegates at a reception to celebrate the Evening Standard appeal. As Health Secretary in the Eighties, Lord Fowler launched the UK's first national HIV/Aids awareness campaign, Don't Die of Ignorance - and today he said the global scandal needs global action.
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