AIDS-free world is around the corner – Clinton via @iKanzee_RR

Melbourne. – Former U.S. president Bill
Clinton on Wednesday told delegates at the
ongoing 20th edition of the International AIDS
Conference in Melbourne that an end to the
AIDS disease was in sight.
“The AIDS-free world that so many of you have
worked to build is just over the horizon. We’re
here because we know how far we still have to
go.” he said.
UN targets to eliminate AIDS by 2030 include
having 90 per cent of people with HIV
diagnosed and on treatment by 2020, and
stressed that more than 35 million people are
living with HIV and AIDS, with an estimated 19
million unaware of their status.
He said that this had become imperative
because the tools needed to treat AIDS and
stop its transmission were available.
Clinton noted that two million people are still
being infected with the AIDS virus HIV every
year and millions more still needed access to
treatment.
He praised Rwanda for making “remarkable
progress” that included a programme to train
all health workers with the assistance of
international partners on his foundation in the
field of HIV and AIDS in various African
countries.
Clinton paid tribute to the six AIDS 2014
delegates killed in the MH17 plane crash in
Ukraine while en route to Melbourne.
“It is important that we honour the service and
lives of those that were lost on MH17,’’ he
said.
AIDS 2014 opened on Sunday with around
14,000 researchers, activists and policymakers
expected to attend the five-day event.