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
Abhina Aher, a trans activist and associate director of Alliance India, said being in London for the conference was “inspirational”.
She told the delegates: "There is a huge amount of discrimination and social stigma against transgender people in India. Many of us are not accepted by our families and some people like me are not even given dignity in death.
"Despite working globally and working on the front line talking about HIV and AIDS, I still face this stigma today."
The conference is breaking for lunch, courtesy of The Conduit and Johnson & Johnson.
Evening Standard editor, George Osborne, has told the delegates: "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.
"We will be long term partners with you... the fight goes on."
Latest panels include personal testimony from leaders working with young men living with HIV in Atlanta, and at how data mining and analysis can help the most disadvantaged communities tackle the AIDS epidemic.
Watch as our sister station London Live speaks to International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, about the UK's role in the combatting AIDS around the world.
Read our Evening Standard comment piece on why our campaign has brought an AIDS-free future closer.
The latest panel is discussing how collaborative solutions can help pave the way to an AIDS-free future.
Solutions include combination prevention - including PrEP and self-testing - as well as the use of data and analysis to help the most disadvantaged combat the epidemic.
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