Dutch gov't commits extra €10 mil. to AIDS prevention

The Dutch government is committing an extra 10 million euros to making HIV prevention and AIDS inhibitors more accessible to vulnerable groups, such as men who have sex with other men, drug users, trans people, young people and sex workers. In the coming years, the amount will be invested in supporting these vulnerable groups in regions where HIV is still spreading, Minister Sigrid Kaag of Development Cooperation announced at the AIDS 2018 conference in Amsterdam on Monday, RTL Nieuws reports.

"Scientifically speaking, we have every means to permanently reduce AIDS by 2030", Kaag said. "There is progress, but HIV is still spreading. We are still failing to provide HIV prevention on a large scale and to provide treatment to 15 million people." Last year 940 thousand people died of AIDS worldwide. Almost 37 million people are infected with the virus.

Over 15 thousand scientists, policy makers, activists and politicians are gathered at ADIS 2018 to discuss possible solutions to the global AIDS epidemic. On Monday Britain's Prince Harry and Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst also attended the conference.

The Netherlands spends approximately 430 million euros on protecting people in developing countries from dangers surrounding sex, pregnancy and childbirth, according to the broadcaster.