AIDS summit ends with call for funding

The International Aids Conference in South Africa has ended with calls for increased funding as the search for a cure continues.

The conference which began on July 18 was aimed at improving the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Thousands of scientists, campaigners and donors gathered in Durban to discuss the latest advances in tackling the epidemic that has claimed millions of lives.

Olive Shisana – co-chair of the 2016 International Aids Conference, said, “We must hold our governments accountable, especially African governments on the continent. Let us call upon them to introduce universal health coverage, paid from domestic resources, to finance healthcare, including HIV and TB. We in Africa must reduce our dependency on external resources.”

A study conducted by UNAIDS and the Kaiser Foundation which was presented this week in Durban revealed that donors devoted 7.5 billion dollars in 2015 as against 8.6 billion dollars in 2014.

International financing organisation Global Fund has set a target of raising 13 billion US dollars for the next three-year funding cycle.

The UN has also set a target of ending the AIDS pandemic by 2030.