Sir Elton launches ambitious global project to tackle Aids epidemic alongside Prince

SIR ELTON John has launched an ambitious global project to encourage men to test themselves in the fight against the Aids epidemic.

The singer said more work is needed to bring young men “into the fold” as a solution to end the scourge of the HIV virus, which is growing among certain groups.

The Duke of Sussex introduced Sir Elton as he launched the Men Star Coalition at an international Aids conference in Amsterdam.

Sir Elton told the delegates: “If we want to end Aids once and for all, we must make men part of the solution.

“It is time there was a global coalition to teach men to protect themselves, and in doing so it will teach them to better protect not only their wives and girlfriends, their sisters and daughters, but also critically their brothers and sons.”

The project will begin in Africa next year, where men across the continent will be encouraged to self-test for HIV, in a bid to empower them to seek treatment if positive and help stop the spread of the virus.

Sir Elton said research had shown that men aged 24-35 were tested and treated for the HIV virus at “unacceptably low” rates. He added: “Too often, and for good reason, men have been seen as the problem in the fight against Aids. So in response we have done so much to safeguard women and girls, and rightly so, but we can’t solve the whole problem if we’re only addressing half the situation.”

In his introduction, Prince Harry said: “For over a quarter of a century Elton has worked tirelessly to fund research and services in communities around the world.

“And today he has come to Amsterdam to announce his latest endeavour – a billion-dollar global partnership to break the cycle of male transmission of HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Harry has spent two days at the 2018 Aids conference in his role as co-founder of Sentebale, his Africa-based charity which supports young people living with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana.

On Monday, he championed young advocates supported by his organisation and introduced them to policymakers so they could hear first-hand solutions to the issues faced by young people affected by HIV.