UNAIDS aim to end AIDS pandemic in Africa by 2030

Mpho Mokwape | Friday May 19, 2017 12:19

In a recent move to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030, UNAIDS fostered a partnership with Chinese pay television network StarTimes to raise awareness in the continent especially amongst the minority groups who still have no access to information.

StarTimes is Africa’s leading digital television network and the move to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) will allow the two parties to create a strategic partnership with the aim of achieving the objective and common goal of ending AIDS pandemic by 2030.

UNAIDS executive director and under Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Michel Sidibe recently said during a press briefing  that since the network is leading in Africa, it will be able to reach millions with information.

“We will work together to increase awareness on HIV and related issues to reduce stigma and discrimination of people living with the disease and whose lives has been affected. The network broadcast is available through the African continent,” he said.

Sidibe said when the people have the knowledge and information to protect themselves, it is much easier to control the epidemic therefore there are measures in place to make sure that those without television access will be provided with one.

StarTimes president, Pang Xinxing said AIDS was a public threat to mankind therefore a need for a shift in the distribution of information to the public.

He explained that the first step to ending the epidemic was to enhance the public awareness and education hence the need to use television more as it is the most preferred medium of information that people are accustomed to on a daily basis.

“As a responsible corporation, we always take social responsibility seriously. During the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2014 we created content for our daily broadcast about the prevention and management of Ebola, including pull up banners in store outlets, scroll messages on screen and online activities through social media. We intend to do the same with this project with UNAIDS,” he noted.

HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern and cause of death in many parts of Africa. According to the global statistics on HIV/AIDS out of the 34 million HIV-positive people worldwide, 69% live in sub-Saharan Africa and more than half of people living with HIV in Africa are women. The statistics further indicates that there are roughly 23.8 million infected persons in all of Africa.

“91% of the world’s HIV-positive children live in Africa. More than one million adults and children die every year from HIV/AIDS in Africa alone.”