Cuban president says inequality hinders the fight against AIDS

Havana, December 1 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel today defined inequality as one of the causes of the setback experienced in the world in the battle against AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the president pointed out on Twitter the recognition of the United Nations (UN) of this regression due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other crises, and warned that millions of lives are at risk because of this cause.

He highlighted Cuba's commitment in the battle against the disease, which caused 650 thousand deaths last year, while one million 500 people acquired the virus that causes the disease.

The UN commemorates today the World AIDS Day, under the slogan of Equality Now, with a call to stop inequalities in the fight against the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

This international organization considers that after four decades of response to HIV, the differences persist in the most basic services, such as access to detection tests, treatment and condoms, and are even greater in the case of new technologies.

According to the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Winnie Byanyima, it is possible to win the battle against this scourge if the gaps that perpetuate it are eliminated.

We need everyone to embrace the message that absolutely everyone will benefit from the end of inequalities, she said.