GENEVA, 6 February 2020—UNAIDS expresses its deep condolences to the families who have lost loved ones following the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. UNAIDS stands in solidarity with China and offers its full support to measures under way to end the outbreak.
“China has made extraordinary efforts to contain the outbreak and I have full confidence in China’s ability to bring the epidemic under control,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “At this difficult time, UNAIDS offers its support to global efforts to stop the spread of the virus.”
UNAIDS is working closely with partners and the authorities in China to ensure that people living with and affected by HIV continue to have access to essential HIV services. In areas affected by the 2019-nCoV outbreak, movement may be restricted and access to services limited as hospitals focus on supporting increasing numbers of 2019-nCoV patients.
It is particularly important that people living with HIV and other chronic diseases have access to adequate supplies of medicines in order to enable them to continue treatment and remain healthy. UNAIDS commends the Chinese National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention for taking swift action to ensure that people living with HIV who are away from their home towns during this lock-down period are able to obtain their monthly refills of antiretroviral therapy.
It is still unclear how many people living with HIV have been affected by 2019-nCoV in China and UNAIDS will continue to monitor developments. UNAIDS will also continue to work with the authorities and community partners to ensure that people living with and affected by HIV have correct information on how to prevent 2019-nCoV and how to access the services they need.
UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
