AIDSfree appeal: Dr Paul Stoffels – So much done in 30 years… and yet so much still to do

As part of our AIDSfree appeal, a global forum will be staged in London this month with the aim of driving down HIV rates worldwide. Dr Paul Stoffels explains its importance in the fight against the virus
Global fight: a mother and child at an HIV clinic in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Dr Paul Stoffels3 January 2019

I began my career in a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where I first encountered large numbers of patients with HIV.

Back then, the disease had no name, no explanation, and no treatment. I saw first-hand how it was devastating communities.

Since then, the global scientific community has made huge progress in the fight against HIV.

We have characterised the disease, we understand its mechanisms and we know how it is transmitted. And the good news is that we have dozens of treatment options.

People around the world can now keep their disease under control with one pill a day and live an almost-normal lifespan.

But this is not enough to win the fight against HIV. And this is not something that one organisation, government or NGO can achieve on its own. Instead, it requires collaboration, sustained effort and increased resources — a truly global effort.

This is why Johnson & Johnson is partnering with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support the Evening Standard/Independent’s campaign to create an Aids-free future.

Campaigns and partnerships like this are crucial to raise awareness of the disease among a broad audience, harnessing the commitment, creativity and passion of every global citizen to reduce stigma and rally for change and investment.

We are grateful to be part of the diverse group of voices coming together with a shared commitment to make HIV history.

Dr Paul Stoffels of Johnson & Johnson 

Together, we are working to alleviate the impact of HIV on those living with, affected by, or at risk of this worldwide pandemic, and ensuring that nobody is left behind as we work hard to end it.

Alongside frontline educational programmes working to reduce stigma, educate those at risk and help those infected, we are also working with the global health community to advance the tools needed to prevent, treat and ultimately cure HIV.

The many scientific and societal challenges of ending HIV can seem overwhelming.

But having seen the world accomplish so much in the past 30 years, I am optimistic that with continued innovation, sustained investment, and collaboration among the global community, we can make HIV history.

  • Dr Paul Stoffels is vice-chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s executive committee and chief scientific officer

Experts from around world to unite in capital to end epidemic

Kiran Randhawa

The Evening Standard along with the Elton John AIDS Foundation is holding the AIDSfree Cities Global Forum which aims to drastically reduce HIV rates and achieve the target of ending the Aids epidemic.

Representatives from five cities — Delhi in India, Nairobi in Kenya, Maputo in Mozambique, Kiev in Ukraine, and Atlanta in the US —  will meet key figures from London in the capital. 

Government ministers and mayors will be joined by leading medical experts to begin discussions and form a plan of action to tackle HIV together and create a future free of Aids.

The forum will focus on the UN’s “90-90-90 targets” which aim to ensure that at least 90 per cent of people with HIV know their status, 90 per cent of these are on treatment, and 90 per cent have an undetectable viral load — where the level of virus in blood is so low it cannot be passed on.

The event at the Conduit in Mayfair on January 30 is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson

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