Health officials next turned to sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to the majority of newly reported HIV infections as well as a second subtype of the virus.
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Speaking exclusively with this newspaper at the 21st International AIDS conference in Durban on Wednesday, Sir Elton said: “India is definitely on our radar as one of the countries where we have to make LGBT feel more comfortable”.
Barton discusses a press conference on Tuesday on the first funding decline among major donor governments for the global HIV response in five years (7/20).
Elton also delivered a message of hope to people in countries where homosexuality is illegal, which include Nigeria and Sudan, where LGBT people can face the death penalty.
Sir Elton John: Inclusion is key to ending Aids.
While the deaths from HIV infections have been on a decline, the number of people infected has increased in the last 10 years, a recent global study on the auto-immune disease have revealed. “Together we are putting our words into action to reach LGBT people with HIV services and stop stigma in its tracks”.
Gates, meanwhile, warned that Africa is “chronically underprepared” for a demographic bulge in young people, who are most at risk for HIV.
“Madiba brought his towering courage to this cause, supported all people affected by HIV and called for access to treatment, equity and human rights”, he said, adding, “That was a turning point that led to remarkable global progress”.
“At the first step, my job is to make sure that we evaluate the vaccine properly and while we’re evaluating it, we’re talking to funders and pharmaceutical companies”, she said.
In 15 years’ time, 40 percent of the world’s young people will be living in Africa – over 280 million people. Without education and without empowerment, HIV will win.
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Addressing delegates, Harry, who has visited Lesotho many times since the age of 19, said he had seen that “children with HIV grapple with several medical, emotional and social challenges all at once” and that “just focusing on the physical effects of the disease wasn’t enough”.
