UN chief wants inequalities addressed in ending AIDS by 2030

SOURCE: CMC — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that inequalities in addressing AIDS threaten global efforts to stamp out the disease as a public health threat by 2030.

The UN chief issued the warning in a report published on Friday, which provides 10 key recommendations to get the world back on track.

According to the UN, the Caribbean is second to sub-Saharan Africa for the prevalence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Despite action and progress against HIV in some places and population groups, the report reveals HIV epidemics continue to expand in others.

The report was launched just weeks ahead of a major UN General Assembly meeting on AIDS.

“It is imperative to break out of an increasingly costly and unsustainable cycle of achieving some progress against HIV but ultimately not enough to bring about an end to the pandemic”, the UN Secretary-General said in the report.

“Inequalities are the key reason why the 2020 global targets were missed,” he added. “By ending inequalities, transformative outcomes can be achieved for people living with HIV, communities and countries.”