On January 30th government ministers and civic leaders from six cities, London, Atlanta, Kiev, Nairobi, Delhi and Maputo came together for the AIDSfree Cities Global Forum. The Forum was hosted by UK Secretary of State for Health the Rt Hon Matt Hancock and the Secretary of State for International Development the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, alongside the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Marking a major drive forward from global leaders and policymakers in the worldwide commitment to combatting the HIV epidemic, the Forum also commemorates the conclusion of the AIDSfree appeal – ESI's Christmas appeal, in partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation - which has raised a phenomenal £3.26m.

The campaign, which launched on December 3rd 2018, shared the personal stories of those living with HIV across all six cities and featured messages of support from a wide range of public figures, including Elton John and David Furnish, Michelle Obama, George Osborne, Emma Thompson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ed Sheeran. Funds raised from the appeal will get 300,000 people tested for HIV in the six key cities highlighted in today’s Forum.

The Rt Hon Matt Hancock, UK Secretary of State for Health, also announced a £1.5 million donation from the Department of Health and Social Care towards the AIDSfree appeal.

The Forum was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.

“I’m thrilled that city leaders and health ministers from around the world are coming together to drive forward the global fight to end AIDS. We’ve come so far in this journey and we have the medical tools we need to help every single person at risk of or living with HIV live a normal life. What we need now is collaboration across cities to have long-lasting impact and to make sure no one, wherever they may be, is left behind. This Forum is an example of exactly that, so thank you to everyone involved.”

Sir Elton John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation

“We’re all part of the global solution to this global challenge so I’m extremely grateful to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Evening Standard for bringing us together.”

Rt Hon Matt Hancock, UK Secretary of State for Health

“37 million people are living with HIV today and almost one million died of an AIDS-related illness in 2017. These deaths were preventable. HIV is a treatable disease. That is why I am pleased that world leaders in the field are gathering in London for this event. I hope that it will build on the work of the Evening Standard and The Independent campaign to help achieve an AIDS-free futur”

Evgeny Lebedev, proprietor of ESI Media