“No time for complacency,” is one of the key messages from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the need to accelerate progress to end the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Secretary-General met with the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 18 April 2017.

They discussed a wide range of issues, including the unprecedented progress made to date and how to overcome the remaining challenges. They also talked about the millions of lives saved through the commitment of the United States of America’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief programme and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“It is an honour to serve Secretary-General Guterres and to have his strong support to Fast-Track the end of AIDS,” said Mr Sidibé.

While in New York, the Executive Director also met with the UN Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, on the UN reform agenda and with the President of the UN General Assembly Peter Thomson on the need for innovation in global health. He also met with Michelle Gyles McDonnough the new Director of the Sustainable Development unit.