At the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Paris, France, on July 27, 2017, Kenneth Cole [A&U, November 2011], amfAR Chairman of the Board and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, launched the End AIDS Coalition (EAC), a collaboration of leading AIDS experts, scientists, clinicians, policy-makers, faith leaders, businesses, activists and humanitarians working together to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
“We are at a ‘tipping point’ in the fight against AIDS, with a quickly-closing window of opportunity,” said Mr. Cole, EAC Founder. “If we do not act now, and act together, to gain control of this global epidemic, it may never be possible and the costs in both funding and human lives would be catastrophic.”
By approaching the global AIDS response holistically, the EAC hopes to increase collaboration, transparency and accountability in order to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS 2016 Political Declaration to end AIDS by 2030.
Building on the work of partners, the EAC aims to focus the global AIDS response—linking research, resources and implementation—around one goal: to end the epidemic by 2030; encourage the aggregation and analysis of data from the global AIDS response to identify barriers and encourage efficiencies, with a focus on specific populations and locations at risk (micro-epidemics); and inspire a movement to mobilize and engage the energy and creativity of the next generation, a critical step in achieving success over the next three to five years.
Photo ©IAS/Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos
“By collectively focusing on a common goal through the EAC, we will be able to link research to funding and implementation, which, in turn, will accelerate the widespread use of innovation and expedite the end of the epidemic,” said Quarraisha Abdool Karim, epidemiologist and Associate Scientific Director for the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).
The EAC will launch a global campaign in 2018 to align the global narrative with targeted advocacy and inspire everyone everywhere to recognize the challenges and ultimately be part of the solutions. As their press release frames it, “To work together. To fight together. To win together. That’s the commitment of EAC and its partners. This is the beginning of the end of the AIDS epidemic.”
For further information and to join the EAC, visit: www.endaidscoalition.org and like and follow @EndAIDS2030 on Facebook and Twitter.
Reporting by Hank Trout