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UN chief calls for further efforts to realize AIDS-free world

11 June 2013 04:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Monday called on the international community to press ahead with efforts to realize the vision of a world free of AIDS, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"We must move from treating millions with disease to giving billions the opportunity to live healthy lives," Ban said as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) met to consider progress in the global struggle against the HIV epidemic.

"The HIV response can help to build stronger, integrated health care systems that respond to broad needs across society," he said.

The UN chief noted that the Monday meeting took place almost half-way to the target date set by UNGA's 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and that important progress has been made to turn the tide on the HIV epidemic.

Outlining the progress to date, Ban said that the epidemic has been stabilized and the rate of new infections reversed in more than 56 countries.

According to him, globally, new HIV infections have declined by one fifth since 2001. Also, treatment now reaches more than half of all people who need it in low- and middle-income countries.

"We are paving the way to achieve an AIDS-free generation," he told the 193-member body. "Overall, we will have reached the Millennium Development Goal to halt and reverse the spread of AIDS by 2015. But we must do more for individual countries and communities - and we need additional funding to fully realize our vision."

He underlined that the international community must continue to push hard for greater results, adding that anti-retroviral treatment, "a human rights imperative and a public health necessity," must be expanded.

"As the world shapes a post-2015 development agenda, we can draw important lessons from the global AIDS response. We can take inspiration from the activists, health workers, fund-raisers, diplomats and ministers - the General Assembly and all of you," he said. "Now let us rise to the many serious challenges that remain to get the job done."

At the same time, Ban said that women and girls are still at unacceptably high risk of HIV, noting that every minute a young woman is infected. In addition, children's access to HIV treatment remains particularly low, with less than one third of children with HIV receiving the treatment they need.

"I continue to be disturbed by widespread stigma, discrimination, gender-based violence and punitive laws against people living with HIV - as well as those at high risk of infection," he said. "This problem cannot be solved with more money. We all have to step up with courage and integrity to protect vulnerable members of our human family."

He pointed out that some 45 countries and territories continue to deny entry, stay and residence to people living with HIV, and called on them to repeal those discriminatory laws.

The secretary-general also called for greater funding for programs to help key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men and people who use drugs, as well as for efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that surround HIV.