Julio Montaner: Open letter to Stephen Harper calling for endorsement of HIV/AIDS global target

published on September 22, 2015 in The Georgia Straight

Editor's note: This open letter was sent to Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, as well as NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Green Leader Elizabeth May, and Assembly of First Nations national chief Perry Bellegarde.

Dear Prime Minister,

It gives me great pleasure to report that our 90-90-90 Target will be further considered as the strategy for the global control of HIV/AIDS, as part of the agenda on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this September 27th, at a Special Session within the 2015 UN General Assembly (UNGASS) in New York City.

The 90-90-90 Target, based on the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS-pioneered Treatment as Prevention® model, was formally embraced by Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-Moon at the 2014 UNGASS. The 90-90-90 Target calls for at least 90% of all people living with HIV (PLWH) to know their sero-status by 2020, at least 90% of all PLWH to have access to high quality antiretroviral therapy, and at least 90% of those on treatment to have sustained HIV viral suppression. Meeting the 90-90-90 Target by 2020 will lead to a 90% reduction in the global burden of HIV/AIDS by 2030, when compared to a 2010 baseline (including AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, as well as HIV transmission).

Over the last year, numerous countries around the world, including the United States, China, South Africa, Brazil, India, Panama, Sierra Leone, Argentina, France, and Spain – among many others – have rallied behind the 90-90-90 Target. Most notably, Pope Francis gave thanks for the lives saved by “Treatment as Prevention” and noted such efforts “give witness to the possibilities for beneficial outcomes when all sectors of society unite in common purpose.”

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Treatment as Prevention®

Julio Montaner

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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Julio Montaner: Open letter to Stephen Harper calling for endorsement of HIV/AIDS global target

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