AIDSfree appeal: Lord Speaker - This global scandal needs global action

Delegates at the AIDSfree Cities Forum were entertained at a special gala reception in the House of Lords where the Lord Speaker, Norman Fowler, told them “global solutions” must be found to the Aids epidemic.

The former health secretary, who launched the first national HIV/Aids awareness campaign in the Eighties, hosted the gathering last night of representatives from London, Atlanta, Maputo, Delhi, Nairobi and Kiev.

He said: “Still we lose each year around the globe almost a million people, and another almost two million contract HIV.

“That is the scandal of what is taking place around the world.

“It is a global problem, and it will be global solutions that we need. Congratulations to the Evening Standard, The Independent and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“This is precisely the kind of conference that we should be having in this country.”

Among those present were Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who dubbed the Standard’s AIDSfree appeal, which ends this week, a “generational campaign” and praised its impact.

Dr Yolanda Manuel, a public health specialist working in Maputo, Mozambique, on HIV prevention, said: “I am very excited to be here because it is a great opportunity for us to exchange experiences from these fast-track cities.

“It would be good to have some new creative ideas we can implement back home.”

Abhina Aher, a trans activist and associate director of Alliance India, below, said being in London for the reception and conference was “inspirational”.

Abhina Aher (Nigel Howard)
NIGEL HOWARD ©

She added: “It feels like we have a voice now.”

Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said of the Standard campaign: “What has been wonderful to see is that Londoners have responded to these stories, and now it is to take those stories, the things we have told people, and take action.”

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