Gordon Brown’s World AIDS Day Message

November 23, 2009

 

Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has recorded a World Aids Day message, in which he pays tribute to activists around the world who continue in the fight against HIV and AIDS, a fight the Government is committed to.

The PM said: “"Even in the midst of so much sorrow, those who had lost loved ones refused to accept the silence and the stigma and set up pioneering charities which are still saving and changing lives today."

“More than a quarter of people with HIV don’t know they have the disease because they haven’t been tested”, to which he reiterated government’s commitment to increasing HIV testing and tackling the continuing stigma.

In The National AIDS Trust recording, Brown also praises those around the world who have “refused to give up in the face of HIV and AIDS”

Reacting to Gordon Brown’s message, Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National AIDS Trust (NAT), said: “We are delighted that Gordon Brown has provided a message for our World AIDS Day website. We are especially pleased he has spoken about HIV in the UK in particular the need to increase HIV testing as well as fighting prejudice. He is right to say there is no room for complacency in tackling HIV.

We hope the concern and commitment the Prime Minister had expressed today will be remembered beyond World AIDS Day.”

Lisa Power, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust was also positive in her response to the PM’s message and said: “We’re delighted that Gordon Brown is making a commitment to increase HIV testing. Thousands of people in the UK don’t know they have the virus and many find out very late – sometimes years after infection. We have to get more people taking a test, it’s quicker and easier than ever and it saves lives.”

World AIDS Day takes place every year on December 1.

Image Source: http://www.number10.gov.uk