“The price to pay to end the AIDS epidemic is …”

“In 2019, more than 38 million people were still living with HIV around the world, including more than 1,800,000 children and more than 1,700,000 new infections.” These words are from the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Cheikh Oumar Hann who chaired, on Sunday 8 November, the opening ceremony of the 10th International Conference on HIV, Sexual Health, Hepatitis and Covid-19 (AFRAVIH 2020).

And despite, he says, tremendous medical advances, remarkable scientific advances, and massive use of antiretroviral drugs, nearly 700,000 people died of AIDS-related diseases in the same year. “This is obviously too much and far below the goals set by UNAIDS. At the same time, WHO announces that more than 325 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B or C. Currently, with 40 million confirmed cases and 1 million deaths, COVID 19 is shaking our world to the point of destabilize it “, the minister listed. Before launching:” For you scientists and researchers as well as for us leaders and political leaders, it is time to reaffirm our will to fight these viruses with even more strength and determination “.

“Prevention, treatment and research: three pillars of a certain victory that we want very soon”

Cheikh Oumar Hann to explain: “This connected conference is another opportunity for you, researchers, to show your resilience in the face of these diseases and to share your progress by comparing your views for the well-being of populations. Senegal has always been able to maintain its position among the leaders of the HIV response in Africa. An answer based on a virtuous triptych of prevention, treatment and research: three pillars of a certain victory that we want very soon “.

Better still, he argues, “the efforts made by my government to allow free access to HIV treatment for as many people are considerable.”

Therefore, he argues that it remains urgent “to ensure that no one is left on the street and that the most vulnerable populations are protected to break the chain of HIV transmission”. This is the price to pay to put an end to the AIDS epidemic: a goal, certainly ambitious, but which remains within our reach ”.

While indicating: “We also know that it is by supporting research, innovation and talent that we will end up defeating these viruses (HIV, hepatitis or coronavirus, etc.)”.

With this he concludes: “To the associations and communities concerned, I would like to say that I fully appreciate their dedication and the importance of their contribution as key actors in the response to diseases. In our pandemic response policy, our approach must be comprehensive and multi-sectoral to be effective. It is an obvious necessity ”.

Author: Awa FAYE – Seneweb.com