City signs up to international HIV initiative

Today, Brighton & Hove City Council, represented by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Warren Morgan and the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Mo Marsh, signed an international commitment to work towards eradicating HIV as a public health threat. The Paris Declaration on Fast Track Cities Ending AIDS, was signed at a gathering in the Mayor’s Parlour in honour of the historic occasion.

First launched on World AIDS Day in 2014, the Fast Track Cities initiative has gained support from more than 70 cities around the world. Brighton & Hove is the first UK city to commit to the Fast Track Cities’ Paris Declaration. Signing the Paris Declaration shows the council’s commitment to stop all new HIV infections, and avert AIDS-related deaths by achieving the ’90-90-90′ targets by 2020. The aims are that:-

*90% of people living with HIV to be aware of their status.
*90% of people who know they’re HIV positive to be on treatment.
*90% of people on treatment to have an undetectable viral level, which gives them a better chance of having a healthier and longer life

This city has the highest number of people diagnosed with HIV outside of London. Joining the initiative provides access to the excellent resources of the international Fast Track Cities team. This will enable the council to identify where their efforts at a local level should be concentrated.

If you would like to find out more about The Paris Declaration on Fast Track Cities Ending AIDS, please visit their website here.