On the eve of World AIDS Day 2014, mayors, city representatives and people living with HIV came together in Paris to prepare plans to implement an innovative new initiative to end the AIDS epidemic in cities.
The Fast-Track Cities initiative includes commitments to achieving the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets by 2020, which will result in 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads, keeping them healthy and reducing the risk of HIV transmission.
It will encourage new, cutting-edge service delivery programmes that will not only advance the response to HIV but will also pave the way for cities to address other major public health challenges such as tuberculosis and noncommunicable diseases. Participants were encouraged to share best practices in their cities so that other cities can benefit from their experiences.
They discussed how city leaders could rally resources, talents and innovation in order to ensure people are at the centre. They also highlighted the importance of accelerating access to HIV testing and treatment services, eliminating stigma and discrimination and significantly reducing new HIV infections. They stressed that a better understanding of HIV epidemics in cities would empower leaders to actively address the gaps in the response and reach the people being left behind.
The meeting was convened by the City of Paris, UNAIDS, UN-Habitat and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care.
The Fast-Track Cities initiative, to be launched on World AIDS Day 2014, will be led by mayors, in partnership with communities, civil society, public health officials, clinicians, law enforcement agencies and others. It is expected to deliver significant results in improvements in the health of people living in urban areas.
"We are here not just to advocate for progress but to set a clear path for implementation in all of our cities to ensure that our ambitious objectives are turned into action."
Patrick Klugman, Deputy Mayor of Paris in Charge of International Relations and Francophonie.
"Durban aims to be Africa’s best, most liveable and caring city. And we know that a strong, equitable and effective AIDS response is critical to this vision."
Nomvuzo Shabalala, Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality.
"We are here to create a sustainable and dynamic network of partners to share best practices and to learn from another, so that at the end of the day, together, we can we can achieve our goals."
Angela Brown-Burke, Mayor of Kingston.
"By engaging the key populations who are most affected by HIV—including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs—by focusing on what we know works, and driving down the costs of interventions, we can get to the end of AIDS."
Phill Wilson, President of the Black AIDS Institute.
"We have the tools, knowledge, and experience to end AIDS. But what will define our progress is how we deal with issues of discrimination, social exclusion and inequity. City leaders know better than anyone in the world the challenges—and solutions—in dealing with discrimination."
Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director UNAIDS.
“We are listening to and working with communities to strengthen the sense of responsibility among people and ensure services meet people’s needs. Our message is that life is yours, health is yours – and we are here to support you.”
Pusadee Tamthai, Deputy Governor of Bangkok
