The global response to HIV/AIDS has been “a success story”, senior United Nations officials told the General Assembly today, as delegates spotlighted significant gains in the fight against the widespread disease as well as the remaining challenges to ending the public health scare by 2030.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Health Effects Institute, an independent United States-based nonprofit organization, today released a report that says air pollution is having an increasing impact on human health, becoming the second leading global risk factor for death.
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, to the General Assembly’s annual review of HIV/AIDS, in New York today:
In Somalia, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator there, George Conway — together with the Government and the Somali non-governmental organization consortium — have jointly warned that the country is in the midst of a disaster as devastating rains and floods continue to spread.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World AIDS Day, observed 1 December:
Despite notable progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment worldwide, speakers today warned the General Assembly that the epidemic remains a global concern requiring greater collaboration among Member States, particularly in reaching the most vulnerable countries and populations.
Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, is still in Khartoum and is continuing to engage with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and other key Member States on the ground in efforts to secure an immediate de-escalation and cessation of the fighting.
In Ethiopia, the Government, United Nations and non-governmental organizations aid deliveries have been begun arriving in Tigray, with more than 450 trucks carrying food aid, medical supplies and agricultural supplies. As well, humanitarian flights for staff have also resumed for Mekelle and have started for Shire.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World AIDS Day, observed 1 December:
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announces the appointment of Angeli Achrekar of the United States as Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the Programme Branch of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
