Melbourne. – Former U.S. president Bill Clinton on
Wednesday told delegates at the ongoing 20th
edition of the International AIDS Conference in
Melbourne that an end to the AIDS disease was in
sight.
“The AIDS-free world that so many of you have
worked to build is just over
the horizon. We’re here
because we know how far we still have to go.” he
said.
UN targets to eliminate AIDS by 2030 include having
90 per cent of people with HIV diagnosed and on
treatment by 2020, and stressed that more than 35
million people are living with HIV and AIDS, with an
estimated 19 million unaware of their status.
He said that this had become imperative because
the tools needed to treat AIDS and stop its
transmission were available.
Clinton noted that two million people are still being
infected with the AIDS virus HIV every year and
millions more still needed access to treatment.
He praised Rwanda for making “remarkable
progress” that included a programme to train all
health workers with the assistance of international
partners on his foundation in the field of HIV and
AIDS in various African countries.
Clinton paid tribute to the six AIDS 2014 delegates
killed in the MH17 plane crash in Ukraine while en
route to Melbourne.
“It is important that we honour the service and lives
of those that were lost on MH17,’’ he said.
AIDS 2014 opened on Sunday with around 14,000
researchers, activists and policymakers expected
to attend the five-day event.
Wednesday told delegates at the ongoing 20th
edition of the International AIDS Conference in
Melbourne that an end to the AIDS disease was in
sight.
“The AIDS-free world that so many of you have
worked to build is just over
the horizon. We’re here
because we know how far we still have to go.” he
said.
UN targets to eliminate AIDS by 2030 include having
90 per cent of people with HIV diagnosed and on
treatment by 2020, and stressed that more than 35
million people are living with HIV and AIDS, with an
estimated 19 million unaware of their status.
He said that this had become imperative because
the tools needed to treat AIDS and stop its
transmission were available.
Clinton noted that two million people are still being
infected with the AIDS virus HIV every year and
millions more still needed access to treatment.
He praised Rwanda for making “remarkable
progress” that included a programme to train all
health workers with the assistance of international
partners on his foundation in the field of HIV and
AIDS in various African countries.
Clinton paid tribute to the six AIDS 2014 delegates
killed in the MH17 plane crash in Ukraine while en
route to Melbourne.
“It is important that we honour the service and lives
of those that were lost on MH17,’’ he said.
AIDS 2014 opened on Sunday with around 14,000
researchers, activists and policymakers expected
to attend the five-day event.
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