Iloilo City mayor signs anti-AIDS declaration

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY Mayor Jerry Treñas recognized the need for a more strengthened and strategic response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.

Treñas said he supports the Fast-Track Cities initiative by signing the Paris Declaration on “Fast-Track Cities: Ending the AIDS Epidemic.”

The declaration aims to position cities around the world to lead fast-track actions toward achieving the 90-90-90 target by the year 2020.

The target means 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status; 90% of people living with HIV avail of treatment; and 90% of people on treatment are able to suppressed viral loads.

Likewise, the declaration states that attaining this target will lead to a trajectory towards getting to zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths.

By signing the declaration, the mayor commits to: end the AIDS epidemic in cities by 2030; put people at the center of everything we do; address the causes of risk, vulnerability, and transmission; use AIDS response for positive social transformation; build and accelerate an appropriate response reflecting local needs; mobilize resources for integrated public health and sustainable development; and unite as leaders.

Meanwhile, through the efforts of  the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Department of Health, and the League of Cities of the Philippines, more city mayors in the country have expressed their support to this initiative by signing the declaration. (PIA)