Respected American doctor and Republican presidential hopeful, Dr. Ben Carson has promised to use his experience as a medical doctor to wage a war on HIV/AIDS until it becomes a thing of the past if elected to the office of American president.
In a statement on Monday in commemoration of the 2015 World Aids Day, Dr Carson said he would not rest until World Aids Day becomes irrelevant because the pandemic itself would have been eradicated.
He said: As a doctor, I am all too familiar with the ravages of HIV and AIDS. I’m old enough, too, to remember a time when an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence. Since then, society and medical science have come together to push back against this terrible disease, to treat its debilitating effects, and to halt its spread through new drugs and practices. It is a remarkable testament to the power of the resolve of the medical community. But the work is far from over. As President, I will not be content until December First is no longer World AIDS Day. We must continue to drive research into newer, better treatments that can protect and prolong life. We must work with international charities and organizations to make treatment and prevention more accessible across the globe. And we must not stop until the scourge of HIV and AIDS is eradicated. So on this World AIDS Day, let us all pray for those afflicted with this disease, and let us redouble our efforts to protect life today and tomorrow.”
World AIDS Day is held on the 1st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.