FoTAC welcomes the Deputy Prime Minister's acknowledgement on World AIDS Day that for the first time, we are in a position where we have the potential to turn the tide of the epidemic.
http://www.worldaidsday.org/video-messages.php
âIts thirty years since AIDS was first discovered.
Huge strides have been made since then. Globally new infections have fallen. The price of HIV drugs has been reduced. Millions of people living with HIV now have access to life saving drugs.
And new evidence is emerging on what works in prevention.
So never before have we been in this position where we have the potential to turn the tide of the epidemic.
So itâs right that we celebrate the progress that has been made. But there is still a great deal of work to do. We need to do more to fight new infections, provide better care and support for people still living with HIV and better access for people who are still not getting the treatment they need. We also have to continue teaching people about the risk and tackle the stigma so that we prevent the transmission of HIV and individuals get themselves tested early giving themselves a chance of a long healthy life.
The United Kingdom will prevent at least half a million new HIV infections among women in Africa and weâll prevent tens of thousands of HIV positive women transmitting HIV to their babies.
Abroad as well as at home we must continue these efforts.
So today on World AIDS day lets wear our ribbons in solidarity with people living with HIV. Letâs look back at everything that has been achieved but letâs also be ambitious for the future. Letâs set our sights on a world that is free finally of HIV.â
