Prince Harry joins Elton John to launch a campaign against HIV targeting men

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – British Prince Harry joined pop star Elton John on Tuesday to launch an HIV awareness campaign among men, warning that a "dangerous complacency" about the virus was threatening him. 39; annihilate.

The $ 1 billion MenStar project will target men living with or at risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, ravaged by AIDS for years 1980.

"The MenStar Coalition bravely attacks the root cause of this problem – the lack of awareness of HIV prevention among hard-to-reach young men," said Harry at the 22nd AIDS Conference in Amsterdam. At the launch, which also included South African actress Charlize Theron and Ndaba Mandela, grandson of late President Nelson Mandela, Elton John said, "If we want to end AIDS once and for all, we must make men part of the solution. "

Approximately 36.7 million people worldwide have HIV, according to 2016 figures cited by the UNAIDS HIV / AIDS group." Less than half of men living with HIV / AIDS are living with HIV. HIV receives treatment against 60% of women, according to report.

"It's time for a global coalition to teach men how to protect themselves. And in doing so, he will teach them to better protect not only their wives and girlfriends, their sisters and daughters, but also, and most importantly, their brothers and their sons, "said the British singer.

UNAIDS reported this month that the fight against HIV / AIDS was "slipping" and as deaths declined and treatment rates increased, rates of new infections threatened to fail disease.

Prince Harry said the launch of the campaign comes "at a time when new, energetic and innovative solutions are needed more than ever".

"MenStar" is supported by the US Government's PEPSTAR program and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Conference experts hope that AIDS will be eliminated worldwide by 2030, but the United Nations warned last Wednesday of a £ 4.6 billion funding gap that threatens efforts.