Several international champions of HIV support, including Elton John and Charlize Theron, have sent an open letter to Boris Johnson requesting his assistance.
John and Theron have encouraged British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to confront a fresh AIDS crisis at the next G7 conference. Drawing Johnson’s attention to the matter, the letter starts, “We are facing a new AIDS emergency, and we need your help…While Covid-19 is naturally dominating the agenda at the moment, it is critical that you and your fellow leaders protect and build on what we have achieved in the fight to end AIDS and apply it to the fight against Covid-19.”
“The Covid-19 crisis has effectively shut down HIV prevention and treatment services in a number of countries. It has pushed up poverty, gender-based violence, and human rights violations by removing millions of girls from school. All of these variables raise the chances of someone contracting HIV or having AIDS. We’ve already seen a sharp rise in teen pregnancy rates, which we know will lead to an increase in HIV infections…According to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, HIV service delivery has been severely disrupted, with HIV testing falling by 41% in 502 health facilities in Africa and Asia. The WHO has called attention to substantial disruptions in HIV treatment supply chains.” “Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project” is the creation of Theron, whereas Elton’s “Elton John AIDS Foundation” is his own brainchild. “As global HIV response leaders and champions, we now fear that the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths will rise once more.”
“The G7 meeting in June, which follows the UN High Level Meeting on HIV and the Fortieth Anniversary of the First AIDS Cases, presents a critical opportunity to rally the world to act together,” the letter said. “You are correct in focusing the G7 summit on global health and pandemics. We’ve seen how such pandemics flourish on the fault lines of racial, social, and economic inequality over the last year…We must work together to eradicate Covid-19 and AIDS everywhere. The G7 must commit to enhanced investment in pandemic preparedness for existing, emerging, and future pandemics. As convenor and through example, the UK must push ambitious G7 support for world progress…The world’s eyes are on the UK, and on you, Prime Minister,” it ended.
Most recently, Elton John received the Icon Award at last week’s, May 27 iHeartRadio Music Awards when a medley of his greatest songs was performed by a number of singers including H.E.R., Brandi Carlile, and Demi Lovato who performed “Bennie and the Jets” and other songs in the Los Angeles event.
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Author: Luke Traina
Photo: Gage Skidmore