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UN chief calls for tolerance, awareness, helping vulnerable people in fighting against AIDS

Xinhua, December 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for tolerance, awareness and helping the vulnerable people in the global efforts to fight the AIDS epidemic.

The secretary-general, in his speech at an event here to mark World AIDS Day, said, "Tolerance and awareness help stop AIDS. Speaking out protects life."

"We are motivated to fight AIDS because we know that every child deserves care, every person deserves treatment, and all vulnerable groups deserve protection from stigma and abuse," Ban said.

"We know that hatred and bigotry spread disease and ... silence equals death," he said.

Half as many children are infected mother-to-child transmission, he said, calling for the joint world efforts to double the number of people who can enjoy access to medicines.

"I am calling for action to get on the fast track to our target of 30 million people on treatment by 2030," he said.

"This requires that we reach the most vulnerable communities -- the young women in Sub-Saharan Africa, people who injects drugs ... and the poor who need services and care."

"We have been making this our commitment that by 2030, there will be no new cases of HIV/AIDS, no deaths caused by HIV/AIDS and also no discrimination against people living with HIV," the virus that causes the AIDS disease, he said.

World AIDS Day, observed on Dec. 1 every year since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.

The World Day is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World Hepatitis Day. Enditem