Make stronger commitments to end HIV and AIDS – President

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has called on countries in the Asia Pacific region to make stronger commitments to end HIV and AIDS by the year 2030.

While delivering the keynote address at the 2015 Asia and Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on HIV and AIDS held in Bangkok, Thailand, the President said that while the region has made impressive gains to‑date, much more still needs to be done.

Ratu Epeli said the challenge is to ensure that the commitments do not remain a string of words on a conference document.

He said people must walk the talk so that people can secure a future of dignity for everyone and to leave no one behind.

Ratu Epeli said Fiji has taken the important step towards ensuring financial sustainability of the AIDS response by providing a grant for HIV prevention and care including free antiretroviral therapy.

Nailatikau stressed that HIV flourishes along with other sexually transmitted diseases in an environment where there is poverty, inequality and social exclusion.

He highlights they must tackle these challenges to have a real chance to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.