Kagame to address UNAIDS high level meeting

NEW YORK - President Paul Kagame is expected to address the UNAIDS High level meeting in New York, today and tomorrow. The theme for this year’s meeting is: Unite for universal access. A new UNAIDS report cites Rwanda as one of the few countries that have achieved at least 80 percent access to treatment. Rwanda was named among the few countries to have registered success in reducing new HIV infections and improving access to treatment. In the mean time, the President is expected to deliver a key note address at the UNICEF’s « missing face of children and AIDS » summit, and First lady, Jeannette Kagame will attend a meeting of first spouses for the elimination of new HIV infections among children. A new report, “Shared Accountability”, which presents evidence of what has been achieved by the AIDS response will also be launched, at the meeting. The report will form a solid base for action leading to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015. According to the latest estimates from UNAIDS, 34 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2010 and nearly 25 million have died from AIDS-related causes since the scourge was first reported 30 years ago. The issue being tackled in New York is how investments in HIV response in low and middle income countries can increase, to not only stop people from dying but to also prevent transmission of HIV. Ends

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Kagame to address UNAIDS high level meeting