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DURBAN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday commended South Africa for its lead role in tackling HIV and AIDS.
Ban met with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on the opening day of the 21st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) in Durban.
Ban said he was impressed by SA's progress in the fight against AIDS, particularly in giving access to treatment to people affected by HIV, recalling that the Durban Conference in 2000 had set very good guidelines to achieve such progress.
However, he stressed that much remained to be done at the global level to ensure the ending of the epidemic by 2030.
Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for the support lent by the United Nations in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa and globally.
Ban is in Durban to officiate the opening the AIDS 2016 running from July 18 to 22. The event will bring together national and international delegates including government officials and the civil society, for those working in the field of HIV, as well as persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. They will evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward.
Earlier in the day, the UN chief gave a briefing on the High Level Panel on Access to Medicine mandated to provide valuable insights and contribute towards fresh ideas and solutions to pharmaceutical products.
He thanked UN partners in the fight against the AIDS pandemic but said many people still cannot afford the new generation of treatments for AIDS, Hepatitis C and other non-communicable diseases like cancer.
Ban also met with leaders of civil society and had a dialogue with youth on health issues. Enditem
