May 20, 2009

Elton John: AIDS Needs More Attention in America

At the 2009 Bio International Convention held in Atlanta, keynote speaker Sir Elton John told the crowd that more attention needs to be paid to the HIV epidemic, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

John reflected on his friends he lost to complications of AIDS over the years—Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury and Indiana teen Ryan White. He also spoke about his own complacency and silence when the epidemic hit in the early ’80s.

“I should have been on the front lines; I should have spoken out,” he said. “I should have done more, but I didn’t…. I’m ashamed.”

According to the article, the singer emphasized the desperate need to focus on education, especially among youth. John cited a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study showing that only 6 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 consider HIV/AIDS to be the country’s most urgent health problem. He also listed AIDS stigma and lack of access to health care and needle exchanges as issues that need to be aggressively addressed as well.

John, a longtime AIDS activist, started the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) in 1992. During the past 17 years, the foundation has raised $150 million for AIDS research and programs.

Search: Elton John, Bio International Conference, Atlanta, Freddie Mercury, Ryan White

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

ElizaJane, Augusta, Maine, 2009-06-10 13:36:09
Perhaps the Feds could stop giving money to the auto and banking industry, and use the money for HIV prevention and care? Oh wait...that would make sense.

Dolores, New York, 2009-05-21 15:17:03
Elton John is correct.I was diagnosed in 2000. Apparently,I was infected in 1983 and had no signs of it for 17 years. I am now 63 and working for a major retailer as a sales clerk. When i retire after 29years of service, how will I pay for my meds? I have heard that some people are paying 6-8 hundred a month because none of the HIV meds are on Part D or supplementary insurance plans. I hope this will not be true. All working ,tax paying citizens should be covered. Thanks Elton

Craig, Orlando,fla, 2009-05-21 14:17:22
Well I have to agree on the fact that we need to spend millions upon millions to educate! If we could stop transmission today. In about 100yrs the aids virus should be extinct. I am saying it is the only virus that can be stopped with knowledge. And we are still teaching our children about abstaining. BeenPOZ 4 over 20yrs and wish I had the info they have now, I scare dates away with my revelation in the first 3mins of conversation. Education the best policy for ALL.