Music legend Sir Elton John, known for his commitment to fighting the AIDS epidemic through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, spoke at Westminster and called on political leaders to take action that could lead to the worldwide eradication of AIDS by 2030. He was honored by the All Party Parliamentary Group for his dedication to this cause.
Sir Elton’s call to action came in the wake of the UK government’s announcement of a new pilot scheme offering tests for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C to individuals undergoing blood tests in selected hospital accident and emergency units. This program aims to build on the success of the trial conducted in 34 A&E units, which tested over 1.4 million blood samples and identified 4,000 people with HIV.
The music icon praised the expansion of the testing program, stating that it leads to early detection, reduced HIV transmission, less illness, fewer deaths, and potential savings for the NHS.
He urged the government to continue its commitment to ending AIDS, emphasizing the progress made in the UK, where new HIV diagnoses have declined by 46% since their peak in 2015. Sir Elton challenged political leaders, stating, “We can be the first country in the world to defeat this awful virus.”
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, also expressed support for this goal, pledging that an incoming Labour government would work toward ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030 and commission an update to the HIV Action Plan.
Sir Elton’s remarks coincided with World AIDS Day, held on 1 December, and emphasized the importance of continued efforts to combat HIV and AIDS on a global scale.