Fast Track City Network to end Aids hosted in Sandton
MORNINGSIDE – Ten cities have committed to fast-tracking their response to the HIV epidemic.
Representatives from 10 cities around the world gathered in Sandton to attend the Fast-Track Cities network, which aims to end the Aids epidemic.
From 31 October to 1 November representatives from Jakarta, Maputo, Windhoek and Lusaka, among others gathered to share what they have accomplished in the first year of the Fast Track Cities network targets. On the last day of the meeting, the MMC for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg, Dr Mpho Phalatse, joined the delegates and took the opportunity to thank everyone for their participation and sharing of their experiences.
“This meeting represented an opportunity for all of us to share what we have done during the first year to contribute to the fast-track targets, learn from each other and agree on next steps to fast-track the HIV response in our cities,” said Phalatse.
Johannesburg is part of the Fast-Track Cities network, which has been heavily affected by the epidemic and is at the forefront of responding to HIV. During the African Fast-Track Cities meeting that was held in Durban two years ago mayors from various cities committed to the Paris Declaration to lead fast-track action towards achieving the 90-90-90 and other sustainable development goals targets by 2020. The 90-90-90 goals aim to ensure that 90 per cent of all HIV positive people are diagnosed, 90 per cent of these people receive antiretroviral treatment and achieve viral suppression for 90 per cent of those treated by 2020.
In the Paris Declaration, cities have been called upon to fast-track the Aids response by 2020 by frontloading investments and stepping up the pace of service delivery and scaling up HIV services which included prevention, treatment, and care, free from stigma and discrimination. “We have an opportunity to establish a network of cities all working on the same goals. I encourage you to strengthen this relationship and engage in study visits to continue learning from each other,” said Phalatse.
She said stigma and discrimination remain a barrier to accessing services and that cities have an opportunity to overcome these barriers if they engage law enforcement, provide inputs towards overcoming discriminatory laws and practices by advocating for access to quality health services as a universal right for all.
She said the world will not achieve the set targets without the involvement of the broader community, particularly the key populations or groups at high risk.
The MMC committed that the City of Johannesburg will lead from the front and support fast-track cities initiatives.
Details: Fast-Track City www.fast-trackcities.org
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Related Articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/190420/join-the-fight-against-aids/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/181280/hiv-vaccine-awareness-day-get-tested-know-status/
