Despite progress, efforts to end HIV/AIDS epidemic must be redoubled, U.N. officials say

"Despite the tremendous progress that has been achieved in the response to HIV/AIDS, it is urgent that efforts be redoubled to end this global epidemic, top United Nations officials stressed [Monday], highlighting in particular the need to expand services and scale up resources," the U.N. News Centre reports. "'Together we must act strategically and effectively to achieve the vision of a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,' the General Assembly President, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said in remarks to an Assembly meeting held to review progress following last year's high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS," the news service writes. Also speaking to the Assembly meeting Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "emphasized the need to do more 'to win the race,' stressing the need to cut the number of new HIV infections by one million by 2015, reach out to people at risk, focus on the special needs of women and children, combat discrimination, and strengthen funding for critical efforts," the news service adds (6/11).