CARIBBEAN-HEALTH–UN Endorses ‘Fast Track’ Campaign To End HIV-AIDS Epidemic

NEW YORK, Dec. 02, 2014, CNS – The United Nations and urban leaders have endorsed a “Fast Track” campaign to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

In his message to mark World AIDS Day on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said ending the epidemic by 2030 requires a “comprehensive approach that includes social justice, the democratisation of science, gender equity, and a people-centred approach to health.

He spotlighted the gap in prevention and treatment that persist among regions and people.

With some 35 million people worldwide living with HIV – 19 million of whom do not even know they have the virus – “tremendous” gains made over the years in fighting the virus remain very fragile.

“The legacy of the AIDS response is already apparent as we confront Ebola in West Africa. We know that medical systems alone are not enough to provide robust health care,” said Ban as events kicked off across the globe to mark World Aids Day, launched in 1988 as the first-ever global health day.

“[These] are all lessons we have learned in the AIDS response that are being applied across the board, including in our discussions on the post-2015 development agenda,” said the UN chief, commending the commitment of world leaders to end AIDS epidemic by 2030.

CNS/db/2014