Last week Nia joined UK international and student activists from the Stop AIDS Campaign, at an event to mark World AIDS Day on 1st December.
Nia spoke with activists about how far we have come in the HIV epidemic, with 8 million people now accessing HIV treatment, and AIDS-related deaths declining, from a peak of 2.2 million in the mid-2000s, to 1.8 million in 2010, but she also heard how far we still have to go, with 7.6 million still going without the life-saving medication they need, and joined with the UK activists in asking the government, for HIV and AIDS, Why Stop Now?
Nia said “ The Stop AIDS Campaign is absolutely right; the UK cannot stop now in its commitment to HIV and AIDS. We have come so far, and we have a unique opportunity now to see the epidemic sent into decline by the end of the decade. That’s why we need a UK blueprint for the AIDS response to ensure we get appropriate support to all people living with HIV, including the 100,000 people living with HIV here in the UK. I will be writing to the Prime Minister, and the Secretaries of State for health and for international development to demand their support; it is critical that investment in HIV and AIDS is sustained so we can save millions of lives.”
The Stop AIDS Campaign is a coalition of 80 UK NGOs, faith-based and academic agencies, working at the heart of the global response to HIV and AIDS for 25 years. www.whystopnow.org www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk