Scale up HIV treatment for women, children, Bill Clinton says

Former US President Bill Clinton on Wednesday said women and children should be included in HIV treatment to achieve an Aids-free generation by 2030.

Addressing a packed auditorium of about 5,000 delegates at the world Aids conference in Melbourne, Australia, Mr Clinton said a lot needed to be done as more than two million people, including 20,000 children, were infected with HIV every month worldwide.

“The Aids-free world that most of you have worked tirelessly to reach is just over the horizon, we just need to step up the pace a little bit and we will be there.

“We are just on the right track to get rid of the scourge, we have what it takes to fight it to the bitter end,” he said.

Mr Clinton said one of the biggest challenges the international community faced was early detection of HIV in patients and access to treatment for HIV-positive expectant mothers.

STRUGGLE TO GET MEDICINE

“The number of children getting infected a month is high because the mothers pass the virus to them, there is more that needs to be done in regards to mother-to-child HIV transmission,” he said

“Seventy per cent of HIV-related deaths could have been prevented if the disease was detected early and early treatment prevents transmission, data from 51 countries suggests,” added Mr Clinton

He said many people were still struggling to get antiretroviral drugs.

The former US president urged Aids experts attending the conference to ensure that they worked towards combating the stigma that prevented people with HIV from accessing health-care services.

“Most of the (HIV)-positive people tend to fear stigma and with this they shy away from getting tested and accessing treatment and even picking their drugs from the hospitals, a lot needs to be done to ensure that we reduce stigma,” he urged.

'PRODUCTIVE VOICES' LOST

Mr Clinton began his speech by honouring the Aids researchers and experts killed when Malaysia Airlines' flight MH17 was shot down, saying they devoted their lives to giving other people the best.

“We lost voices that were so productive, we honour and celebrate services they gave and progress made in ensuring that we are where we are now," he said.

Mr Clinton’s speech was briefly interrupted by supporters who were calling for more money to help the fight against HIV/Aids.

He said the protesters should be allowed to demonstrate as they were also part of the movement fighting to eradicate the disease.

“Did you get the message? We cannot prevent them from doing that, they are on a good mission on the fight (against) HIV/Aids, which has brought us here,” said Mr Clinton.