July 24, 2016 | Health Matters

One more reason to love Prince Harry

Prince Harry and Sir Elton John, speaking at the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, used there positions to remind the world’s leaders not to become complacent about the disease.

Last year, close to two million people worldwide were infected with HIV, and over one million died of AIDS.

Prince Harry noted that HIV-AIDS is the number one cause of death among adolescents in Africa, and the number two cause of death in young people worldwide.

“We cannot beat HIV without giving young people in every country the voice they deserve. Without education and without empowerment, HIV will win,” he said.

Sir Elton John noted that more than 1,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19 are being infected with HIV every day, yet they are far less likely to be tested and treated than adults.

“Young people are being left out and left behind in the AIDS response,” he said. “And it needs to stop. It needs to stop here and now.”

Both Prince Harry and John urged world leaders to keep up and even increase funding for HIV-AIDS prevention.

Prince Harry made one reference to his mother, recalling the time in 1991 when, during a visit to an AIDS hospice,  Princess Dianna reached out and held the hand of a man dying of AIDS. In very different times it was a moving gesture that helped to destigmatize people living with HIV. 

Good on Harry for taking after his mum!