News | Entertainment
30 Mar 2024 0:56
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Sir Elton John is getting behind the government's vow to end HIV infections and deaths in England by 2030

    The government is pumping £23 million into funding for the cause, with an aim of reducing infections by 80 per cent by 2025 and putting an end to all new cases five years later


    And the Elton John AIDS Foundation founder and music legend, 74, has insisted the most vital thing is "testing".

    Speaking on World AIDS Day (01.12.21), Elton said: "One thing we’ve learned this year is the importance of testing and testing for HIV is at the core of ending new cases of HIV in England. It’s so important for everyone to know their HIV status to protect themselves and others."

    Star of HIV/AIDS drama 'It's A Sin', Nathaniel Hall, who identifies as gay, was diagnosed with HIV when he was 17, and he admitted he hopes the government "put their money where their mouth is and not slip up on that commitment."

    Speaking about Russell T Davies' Channel 4 series about the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s in the UK, the 22-year-old actor is quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying: "To land that gig with one of my screenwriting heroes was incredible.

    "The good drama drew that huge audience in and it became an amazing opportunity for charities and people with HIV to educate.

    "We are really close, so hopefully the government will put their money where their mouth is and not slip up on that commitment.

    "As somebody living with HIV, it was a real honour to tell those stories in It’s a Sin.

    "I had lots of people message me and say that it meant a lot to them to have somebody with lived experience of HIV in that cast."

    Data provided from the Terrence Higgins Trust showed that across National HIV Testing Week - February 1st to 7th - more than 17,000 HIV tests were ordered, more than double the 8,200 ordered during last year's HIV Testing Week, following the launch of 'It's A Sin'.

    An HIV Action Plan is set to be unveiled by Health Secretary Sajid Javid later this year.

    Fraser Wilson from the non-profit Terrence Higgins Trust - which campaigns for and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health - issued the following statement: "The reason some people refuse the test is that they are scared.

    "It’s about unlearning that so that people will be proactive in getting tested.

    Thanks to effective treatment, people diagnosed with HIV today can live normal lives and become undetectable, which means they cannot pass the virus on.

    "HIV is a health condition, yet it’s treated in a way that very few others are. So opt-out testing is about changing that."

    The Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS Trust and Elton John AIDS Foundation charities, who formed the HIV Commission in 2019, will be keeping an eagle-eye on their progress.

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Heidi Klum would've "loved" a role in 'Griselda'
     29 Mar: Tom Schwartz "made out" with Scheana Shay 12 years ago
     29 Mar: Mel B vowed she would never marry again following her split from Stephen Belafonte
     29 Mar: Eva Mendes has branded her mum "incredible" for retaining her sense of humour during her battle with cancer
     29 Mar: Katie Maloney doesn't "hang out" with her 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars
     29 Mar: Jessica Chastain found it "difficult" to film 'Mothers' Instinct' with her showbiz pal Anne Hathaway
     29 Mar: Queen Camilla hosted authors and actors at a star-studded event in London to celebrate reading
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Matakana Smokehouse in its recall of a specific batch of two of its salmon products because of the possible presence of Listeria More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos renew rivalry with Cowboys 23:07

    Law and Order:
    Gisborne Police have charged three people with graffiti vandalism and have identified a fourth suspect after the city's rainbow crossing was defaced with white paint earlier this week 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Heidi Klum would've "loved" a role in 'Griselda' 21:53

    Law and Order:
    Police have left the scene of a party that erupted into a disturbance on Auckland's Princes Wharf 21:37

    Entertainment:
    Tom Schwartz "made out" with Scheana Shay 12 years ago 21:23

    Entertainment:
    Mel B vowed she would never marry again following her split from Stephen Belafonte 20:53

    Entertainment:
    Eva Mendes has branded her mum "incredible" for retaining her sense of humour during her battle with cancer 20:23

    Entertainment:
    Katie Maloney doesn't "hang out" with her 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars 19:53

    Entertainment:
    Jessica Chastain found it "difficult" to film 'Mothers' Instinct' with her showbiz pal Anne Hathaway 19:23

    Rugby:
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd