Elton John launches fund for HIV/AIDS work amid coronavirus

Sunday, 5 April 2020 16:24 GMT
The pop singer said he will fund solutions for people facing barriers to HIV or AIDS care due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus is changing the world in unprecedented ways. Subscribe here for a daily briefing on how this global crisis is affecting cities, technology, approaches to climate change, and the lives of vulnerable people.

By Sonia Elks

LONDON, April 5 (Openly) - Elton John has launched a $1 million emergency fund to help organisations working with people living with HIV or AIDS so they are not "left behind" during the coronavirus crisis.

With the coronavirus pandemic putting pressure on health systems globally, the British musician said the Elton John AIDS Foundation would give cash to organisations for solutions to keep HIV and AIDS care up and running.

"Distributing medicines, testing and preventative treatment is not as simple as it was a few weeks ago," Elton John, 73,  said in a video from his home in Los Angeles posted on Twitter to announce the initiative.

"So our new COVID-19 emergency fund will help frontline partners to prepare for and respond to the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalised communities."

Coronavirus: our latest stories

While the new coronavirus is not considered a threat to HIV-positive people who are on medication, it could pose a higher risk to those who have weakened immune systems or are unaware of their status, health experts and campaigners have warned.

The singer's non-profit said it would fund solutions for "specific challenges" facing people with or at risk of HIV/AIDS who now face additional threats from coronavirus.

RELATED CONTENT:

Are people living with HIV more at risk from coronavirus?

Rich countries urged to do more as coronavirus hits poor, war-torn nations

Calls mount to lift bans on gay men giving blood amid coronavirus

(Reporting by Sonia Elks @soniaelks; Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and Hugo Greenhalgh. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)

Openly is an initiative of the Thomson Reuters Foundation dedicated to impartial coverage of LGBT+ issues from around the world.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Themes
Update cookies preferences