Professor Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, the President of the International AIDS Society and Co-Chair of the 2014 Worlds AIDS conference has called on the world to unite to improve health across the globe at the closing of the Melbourne conference.
Professor Barré-Sinoussi said that there was a undeniable link between human rights and success in battling AIDS.
I strongly believe that we must further increase our collaboration with other major international health movements because our objective is to build a better future for all. This is what global health is about. The mobilization against AIDS is also a strong driver to advance other areas such as human rights. There will be no end of AIDS without ensuring respect and dignity of all people, equity in access to health services and social justice.”
A much discussed issue during the conference was the need for efficient funding across all areas of health work tackling the pandemic. Australia’s Professor Sharon Lewin, the local Co-Chair of the conference said there was still a lot of work to be done.
This week, we have heard of all the great progress but that there is still much work to be done. In order for us to change an epidemic to low level infection, we need an individualised approach to address key hot spots; we need a strong focus on specific geographic areas and key affected populations that continue to experience the highest numbers of infections.
We need to recognise that one size will not fit all in our response. Now more than ever we need an increase in funding to do it. Now is not the time to slacken the pace.” Lewin said.
Sir Bob Geldof, who had earlier the week had criticised the governments of wealthy countries for reducing their level of foreign aid, spoke again at the closing ceremony revisting the challenge scientists and health care workers face in securing funding to compete their work.
I am dismayed that you people, after such great scientific and global health success, still have to beg for cash. On this last mile, on this last hurdle, we cannot allow indifference and incapable governance to stop the final victory, which is coming.” Geldof said.
The next International AIDS Conference will take place in Durban in South Africa in 2016.
In her address to the closing ceremony, the local Co-Chair of AIDS 2016 Professor Olive Shisana noted that sub-Saharan Africa still shoulders a vastly disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, with high prevalence and mortality.
The past three decades of HIV/AIDS has taught us that the disease doesn’t discriminate but that people and governments do. A renewed engagement with decision makers across the continent on the issue of human rights will be unavoidable if we are to move towards ending AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and build on the huge gains that we’ve made over the past 15 years. It is my hope that the Durban 2016 International AIDS Conference will drive momentum towards a reinvigoration of the HIV/AIDS response in Africa.”
AIDS 2014 brought together 13,600 delegates from over 200 countries to discuss the global HIV response. Former US President Bill Clinton, Sir Bob Geldof, UNAIDS head Michel Sidibé and other international figures joined delegates from the medical, research, government and advocacy sectors as well as representatives from the communities most affected by HIV and AIDS including men whohave sex with men, transgender people, sex workers and people who use drugs.
Image: 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014). International AIDS Society, at the Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia. FRPL02_Closing Session: Photo 1 shows: F. Barre-Sinoussi. Photo: International AIDS Society/Steve Forrest Photo 2 shows: Sir Bob Geldof leaving the closing ceremony International AIDS Society/ James Braund © 2014
