Prince Harry leads the call for earlier education on HIV and Aids

Prince Harry has said it is “totally absurd” that many children only learn about HIV and Aids once it is too late.

The 32-year-old issued a call to eradicate the stigma surrounding the disease at a discussion group of his Africabased charity, Sentebale.

During a visit to The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, he said that “education is power”.

“To me it is totally absurd that in today’s world that young people, the first time they know or the first time they hear anything about HIV and Aids, is probably by 0 Prince Harry has called for Aids stigma to be eradicated the time it is too late,” he said. “HIV needs to be treated exactly the same as any other disease, and between us hopefully we can eradicate the stigma and give these young people an opportunity to stand up.” Harry introduced three young people, who had travelled from Lesotho and Botswana, to talk about their experiences of living with HIV.

Tloto, an 18-year-old girl from Botswana, said: “I decided to discuss my status so I can grant them courage, I can give hope to those who are hopeless.”

Ts’epang, 19, from Lesotho, said she chose to disclose her HIV status during her visit to the UK.

The women, along with Kananelo, a 22-year-old man from Lesotho, have spent a week in London preparing to speak to global leaders in HIV and Aids.