City leads way in global bid to beat tragedy of Aids epidemic

GLASGOW has become the first city in Scotland to sign the Paris Declaration on Fast Track Cities in a bid to end the Aids epidemic.

The decision was made by Glasgow City Council’s administration committee 48 hours before World Aids Day.

It follows in the footsteps of Manchester, London, Amsterdam, Melbourne and New York, who have already joined the movement to end new HIV infections by 2030 and stop stigma and discrimination.

The initiative, which looks to prevent deaths from HIV-related causes and improve the quality of life for those living with the condition, was launched on World Aids Day 2014, in Paris.

Glasgow has signed up to deliver the UN’s HIV targets.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter told the committee: “We have been asked to sign up to Fast Track Cities. We would be the first city in Scotland to do this.

“We can then encourage others others to do the same and that would make Scotland a Fast Track country.

“The biggest challenge we have is getting people tested and diagnosed.

“Once we do that we can put an end to the stigma surrounding the disease.”

Glasgow will now aim to deliver the UN’S 90:90:90 HIV targets.

The UN want to ensure 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 90 per cent who have been diagnosed are on treatment and 90 per cent of people receiving treatment have their condition suppressed to an undetectable level.

This does not mean they will be cured.

So far 83 per cent of those living in Glasgow with HIV are aware of their status, 94 per cent are being treated and 93 per cent on treatment have had the virus suppressed.

Ms Hunter continued: “Stigma and discrimination is the biggest barrier which stops people from getting a diagnosis.

“We need them to understand if they test positive they can still live a normal life.”

Glasgow City Council has agreed to set up a leadership group involving the council family and key partner organisations to put in place a local implementation plan.