We must make men part of solution to Aids problem – Elton John
The Duke of Sussex introduced the singer as he launched the global MenStar Coalition at an international conference in Amsterdam.
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.
Sir Elton, who performed at Harry’s recent wedding reception, 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.
He added: “We must find ways to change this. Too often, and for good reason, men have been seen as the problem in the fight against Aids.
“If we want to end Aids once and for all, we must make men part of the solution.”
The MenStar Coalition partners, which have raised a billion dollars in initial funding, feature a number of organisations including the Elton John Aids Foundation, the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) and Unitaid.
In his introduction, Harry said: “For over a quarter (of a) century, Elton has worked tirelessly to fund research and services in communities around the world.
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, under its Let Youth Lead initiative, and introduced them to policymakers so they could hear first-hand solutions to the issues young people affected by HIV face.
In his address to delegates Harry, who like Sir Elton wore an Aids badge on his lapel, said: “This initiative is focused on the tough but essential work of truly changing mind-sets.
“Inspired by the growing alarm at the rate of new HIV infections among young women, this campaign is bravely tackling the root cause of this problem – the lack of awareness of HIV prevention amongst hard-to-reach young men.
“And it will be guided by listening to and respecting the voices of the young men the coalition is trying to reach.”
Earlier, the second day of the conference began with a number of speeches from invited speakers including actress Charlize Theron.
