London 18 September 2014

I attend the IAPAC Conference: HIV Controlling the HIV epidemic with antiretroviral. The meeting took place at the basement of the Royal Garden Hotel in South Kensington. London was at its best, the sun shone over the city and the leaves on the trees were taking a golden hue. Despite sitting under artificial lights as the sun shone outside the debates at the conference were riveting. I had the pleasure of meeting Ambassador Birx, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator PEPFAR, and sitting on a panel with her on why access to paediatric HIV treatment is so important today. In one of Deborah’s presentation she showed some astonishing facts:

This week alone:

• Over 3,600 children died of HIV
• Over 25,000 adults died of HIV
• Over 4,600 babies were infected with HIV
• Over 36,500 adults were infected with HIV of which more than 7,000 were young women.

Our work is not done.

The fight against HIV continues, too few children have access to treatment and too many young women are being infected with HIV. I can only do so much to help so few, but we must all be aware that our fight against HIV is not over.