Washington, (EFE).- The British singer Elton John encourages “stepping on the accelerator” in the global fight against AIDS, in a telematic intervention before the US Senate Foreign Committee.
In his address, he warned that there is still a lot to be done, despite the fact that deaths from this disease have been reduced by 60% in 20 years.
“We have the tools we need to turn the tide and growing leadership, capacity and ingenuity that are taking what’s great and making it better and more sustainable, but we need to keep our foot on the gas,” he said.
The artist appeared in a session focused on the Presidential Emergency Initiative for the Fight against AIDS (Pepfar), promoted in 2003 by the then president George W. Bush (2001-2009) and through which, since its launch, EE The US has invested more than $100 billion in more than 50 countries.
Elton John, who founded his own foundation against HIV-AIDS in 1992, thanked the American leadership in this regard.
“The Pepfar platform has not only transformed HIV into a chronic disease for tens of millions, it has evolved to fight covid and has made countries better prepared for any future viral nightmare,” said the artist, interpreter of hits like “Your Song”, “Rocketman” or “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.
In his virtual intervention, he urged not to lower our guard: data from the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) cited by the singer point out that “progress falters, with one death from AIDS and three new HIV infections every minute”.
“Young people unborn during the horrors of AIDS need a wake-up call, accurate information and the power to use it,” said Elton John, aware that it is necessary to convey “messages that are relevant to them” and use the media that they use, like the internet.
The young people, he added, “are incredible. We just have to give them the tools to help them help themselves.”
The singer was also grateful that Pepfar has saved 25 million lives in the last 20 years and has divided HIV infections by two.
Before its implementation, he stressed, “Africa was in free fall”, with some communities where half of the adults were HIV-positive and others where 80% of pregnant women were infected.
“Part of the power of Pepfar has been to demonstrate the art of the possible,” he said of a program for which the US Congress plans to review a new authorization this year, which would be the fourth since its founding.