Youth Global Platform on HIV/AIDS: key Messages of inspiration for young people and adolescents ‪#‎WAD2015‬.

“By including adolescents in decision-making processes that have a direct effect on their lives, this initiative will be a catalyst for change. Kenya is proud to support this new initiative.” --- President Uhuru Kenyatta
“AIDS is the leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa. Globally, two thirds of all new infections among adolescents were among adolescent girls. This is a moral injustice, I am calling on young people to lead the All In movement, alongside the United Nations, public and private partners, and countries themselves, to end the adolescent AIDS epidemic.” --- Michel Sidibé Executive Director of UNAIDS.
“Children and young people should be the first to benefit from the progress we have made in ending the epidemic, not the last. We need to reach the adolescents we are missing and engage all young people in the effort to end adolescent AIDS. In fact, we cannot achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation without them.” --- Anthony Lake, Executive Director @UNICEF.
"The future of sub-Saharan Africa rests in the health and well-being of the youth. We’re committed to working with partner countries and others to close the health gap that leaves adolescent girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.” ---- Dr. Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy.
"I am advocating that people should know that women have rights. Women have rights for information, for proper contraceptive counseling and methods. They have a right to be able to make decision for them selves. They must be given opportunity to use health services. Either she is using a condom or any other method. But we always say it is better for an unmarried, sexually active girl to use condom because it will also protect her from HIV" --- Hon Dr. Ejike Orji: Immediate past Director of IPAS (Health, Access and Right).
“We can expand opportunity by getting everyone to recognize the seriousness of HIV, and how to end it,” --- Mark Dybul, Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“We can’t say that we are on the right track to end AIDS if it continues being the main cause of death for adolescents in Africa", “we must ensure that no adolescent is left behind.” --- Pablo Aguilera, Executive Director of the HIV Young Leaders Fund and Co-Chair of the PACT.
"2015 has been a great year in advocating, researching, tracking and analyzing the drivers of the HIV epidemic. Knowledge that is crucial for us to end AIDS epidemic by 2030. I commend all the efforts of those that participated in this process. It is now in our jurisdiction to apply this crucial knowledge at this critical moment (Post 2015 development agenda). This is no time for half-measures. For the first time ever, we have the plan, resources and knowledge to fast track the AIDS response. What is needed now is the political courage and leadership to take effective action. Countries endorsed the SDG3 to end AIDS epidemic by 2030. This is especially important for those in the African region with high prevalence and concentrated epidemics. In these settings, providing targeted services for people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients and men who have sex with men will help us fast track the AIDS response and equally make the 2030 goal, a reality. For us it is all about advocating for the right strategic policies to enable young people and adolescents be the change agents to end AIDS epidemic by 2030. Therefore the campaign continues." ----------- Facilitator/Coordinator Youth Global platform on Hiv/aids.