Mandela to appeal for urgent action against HIV/Aids
Nelson Mandela was expected to call for urgent action tonight to address the Aids crisis that is killing millions in Africa and around the world.
The former president of South African was set to stress the need to step up efforts to make treatment available to everyone suffering from HIV/Aids.
Giving this year’s Red Cross Humanity Lecture in central London, Mr Mandela will also pay tribute to the organisation which helped him and other prisoners during his 27 years in jail in South Africa.
More than 25 million people have HIV/Aids in Africa, making it the continent worst affected by the disease.
The Red Cross, which has been working on the Aids crisis in Africa for the past 10 years, is calling for more money to train instructors and provide healthcare services in the region.
The organisation also needs more volunteers to become peer educators and raise awareness of the disease.
At the event in Westminster’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Mr Mandela will recall his first-hand experience of the work of the Red Cross during his long-term detention.
“For many years people from the Red Cross were the only ones who could visit us and they really improved the conditions for prisoners,” Mr Mandela has said.
Since he stepped down as president in 1999, he has become a vocal activist in the fight against Aids.
Nicholas Young, chief executive of the British Red Cross, said the group was “thrilled and honoured” that Mr Mandela had agreed to give the lecture.
“The event will be truly memorable,” he said.
All 700 tickets have been sold for the lecture, which aims to raise funds for the British Red Cross and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Previous speakers include Queen Noor of Jordan and Sir Richard Branson.
