Barbadian Entertainer Rihanna teams with UNAIDS and MAC on HIV, treatment and young people
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The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) announced today the expansion of its Treatment 2015 initiative with a US$ 2 million
grant provided by the heart and soul of M.A.C Cosmetics, the M.A.C AIDS Fund.
(L-R) Michel Sidibe Executive Director UNAIDS, Singer Rihanna, John Demsey, Chairman, M-A-C AIDS Fund and Nancy Mahon, Global Executive Director, MAC AIDS Fund, attend the MAC Cosmetics Launch of Viva Glam Rihanna at MAC Store Soho on January 29, 2014 in New York City.
The Fund is
fully supported from the sale of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass with global superstar Rihanna
lending her celebrity to spur purchase and awareness.
Leveraging this new funding, UNAIDS
will build on Treatment 2015 by advancing global, regional and country level policies and
programs to expand HIV testing and treatment to young people worldwide.
“M.A.C Cosmetics has a long history of engaging the right star power to motivate our customers
and make an impact on this important cause. With UNAIDS’ resources and strategic thinking
and Rihanna’s passionate support, we’re helping save lives one lipstick at a time,” said John
Demsey, Group President of The Estée Lauder Companies.
Globally, an estimated 5.4 million adolescents and young people are living with HIV, and 1.8
million1 are eligible for HIV treatment. Millions of young people living with HIV do not know they
are infected, and every day, approximately 2,100 adolescents and young people1 are newly
infected, which accounts for 39% of all new HIV infections globally. While antiretroviral therapy
has resulted in a decline in AIDS-related deaths, modelling suggests that adolescents from
10 to 19-years-old are the only age group in which AIDS-related deaths rose between 2001 and
2012. The trend in AIDS-related deaths can be attributed to poor prioritization of adolescents in
strategic plans for scale-up of HIV treatment and the lack of testing and counselling.
“Young people will lead us to an AIDS-free generation. By ensuring adolescents and young
people have access to HIV services, we are not only saving lives but also investing in a
healthier future for generations to come,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
“We are truly honored to be working with the M.A.C AIDS Fund to help young people around
the world access earlier HIV testing and treatment.”
The UNAIDS Treatment 2015 initiative aims to reach 15 million adults and young people with
HIV treatment by 2015. The US$ 2 million grant from the M.A.C AIDS Fund will support
expanded efforts to ensure adolescents and young people have access to HIV treatment and
care internationally. New youth outreach efforts will include the evaluation of young people
testing and treatment programmes and adaptation of adolescent and young people treatment
guidelines.
