He said he wants to ensure that LGBT people are protected if they are denied medical treatment or arrested.
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If you don’t, this campaign to end AIDS will be a disaster.
“There is [a] need for a more proactive approach in countering new HIV infections in the country”.
Elton is not the only global superstar attending the Durban AIDS conference, which runs until Friday (22Jul16); Charlize Theron delivered an impassioned speech to open the event on Monday (18Jul16), and British royal Prince Harry is also there to represent hos charity Sentebale.
“But we now face a new risk – the risk of complacency”.
Gates, meanwhile, warned that Africa is “chronically underprepared” for a looming demographic bulge in young people, who are most at risk for HIV. This was a reduction from the more than 88,000 recorded in 2013; as we make progress, the numbers are still unsustainably high.
A new HIV vaccine will undergo a larger clinical trial in South Africa after a small study in the country showed promising results previous year.
“There must be more concerted efforts in prevention of HIV transmission including behavioral prevention programs promoting safe practices, detection programs to catch HIV earlier, programs that improve access and affordability of anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV-negative people from becoming infected, and treatment programs for those already infected”.
He said a new generation of leaders must step forward on the issue and make sure no young person feels any shame in being tested. It is all too common for a 12 year old boy or girl to be forced out to work so they can provide for their brothers and sisters, having lost one or both parents to AIDS. “We will be there for them, and we will battle every step of the way”.
Dr Kilonzo said Kenyans depend on projects for HIV prevention and treatments but once the programmes elapse, people are left hanging and this leads to new infections.
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“Sadly, we are now seeing that funding for HIV/AIDS programs is drying up in Cambodia, and I fear that this is part of the reason we are seeing HIV/AIDS infection rates increasing so much”, he said. Our team there create a safe and open environment where young people are encouraged to share their experiences of living with HIV, often for the first time, with their peers.
