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DURBAN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Medical experts on Monday called for the eradication of HIV by 2030 in the world through various innovative ways.
The call emerged from the 21st International AIDS Conference which started on Monday in Durban.
UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban ki-Moon told a press conference that progress has been made in addressing the pandemic but said there should not be a backsliding.
Pan said half of the people infected by HIV can't access the treatment.
"If we want to reach the universal health coverage by 2030, we have to break down the barriers to treatment. And we need to develop treatment for tuberculosis, neglected topical disease and other urgent needs. As a global community, we must move quickly and decisively towards achieving the targets that will help us finally bring an end to this pandemic. We should have the right policies, respect for the vulnerable and public health,"he said.
Pan said progress has been made in the diagnosing HIV in about 20 minutes in other countries, putting 17 million people in the world on treatment and having international financing for the HIV/Aids.
Ruth Dreifuss, the core-chair of the high level panel appointed by the UN secretary general to address HIV/Aids, said there should be policy coherence in international human rights law, trade rules and justifiable rights of inventors.
She also said treatment for disease like HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis are still beyond the reach for many. She said, "At the moment the world is struggling to respond effectively to challenges like antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, diseases of the poor and rare disease because there is not a clear immediate return on investment. The panel is looking at how to ensure that innovation is sufficiently rewarded, while making progress towards universal health coverage by increasing access to health technologies."
The South African Director General in the Ministry of Health, Malebona Matsoso called on African countries to be innovative in coming up with funding mechanism for HIV/Aids.
She said countries like Chile, Brazil, and Norway have tax to fund the pandemic and said African countries should emulate them. She said with many people using mobile phones in the continent and they can be a way on introducing a funding mechanism using the mobile phones. Matsoso said, "We should have the right mix of policy coherence, public health, intellectual property and the right to access medication. We have to have an innovative financing."
She said there should also be prioritization of children in addressing the HIV/Aids.
Pan said there has been reactionary approach to the Ebola and Zika diseases by the world.
Motsoso agreed that there was a chance to be proactive in addressing the two diseases.
Lorena Di Giano, a member of the high level panel's expert advisory group, also addressed the media, lamenting the high prices of medication. She also saluted those who have died of HIV due to lack of access to the treatment. She said, "Millions of people dies unnecessarily in South Africa and across the world because of HIV and Aids drugs were not available to those who need them. Despite progress on HIV and AIDS, we must re-look the system that does not produce the innovation need to tackle ancient diseases like tuberculosis or indeed ensure health technologies are reaching those that need the most."
Some of the challenges which they raised includes lack of funding for HIV prevention, treatment and research, discriminatory laws and policies. Some who still face challenges in accessing treatment includes men who have sex with other men and sex workers.
