The north has officially joined a United Nations scheme aimed at eliminating new HIV diagnoses within six years.
The Paris Declaration on Fast Track Cities initiative was launched in 2014 with the aim of curbing HIV, and since then many municipalities across the world have signed it.
On Tuesday, the north became the latest region to commit to the plan, with the declaration signed by Belfast’s lord mayor and the deputy mayor of Derry and Strabane. The move makes the whole of the north a ‘Fast Track Region’ under the scheme.
The other Irish cities to have joined the scheme are Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick.
The most recent data from the Public Health Agency showed there were 1,348 people in the north living with HIV in 2022.
Jacquie Richardson, the chief executive of the Positive Life charity said the signing of the declaration was the “most exciting step forward for HIV in Northern Ireland for decades”.
“By joining in this global movement and with a stronger focus at a grassroots, community public health level, we firmly believe that Northern Ireland could achieve the Fast Track Cities goal of zero new HIV diagnoses in Northern Ireland by 2030,” she said.
Belfast lord mayor Ryan Murphy said: “Signing this pledge encourages conversation about the continued risk and impacts of HIV and the need for ongoing awareness. It also encourages those living with a HIV diagnosis to take advantage of the support that it is out there.”
