CHICAGO, Illinois — The third sustainable development goal of the United Nations is to promote a healthy life for people of all ages. Specifically, one of the many subsequent targets of the development goals is to eliminate the AIDS epidemic by 2030. However, the progression of AIDS elimination is not moving at the pace initially imagined. The Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars party hosts celebrities each year, such as Lady Gaga and Billy Porter to raise money against AIDS. The Elton John party is one of the most successful annual celebrity events fighting AIDS.
Current Status of HIV/AIDS Globally
There are approximately 38 million people with HIV and millions worldwide die yearly from AIDS as of 2021. According to the World Health Organization, about 0.7% of the global population ages 15-49 currently have HIV. Additionally, the UNAIDS Global AIDS organization notes that about 160,000 new people were infected with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 2021, a 48% increase from the last 11 years.
People worldwide living with HIV often do not have access to treatment, which leads to developing AIDS. Furthermore, about one in six people with HIV are unaware they are infected until the disease develops into AIDS. The transmission rate of HIV/AIDS is not slowing down anytime soon, and more solutions are needed to eradicate the disease and help the most vulnerable populations.
History of Elton John and AIDS
In the 1980s, Elton John witnessed his friends die from HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, the musician often remarks on the impotence he felt during those days, unable to help his friends fight the disease. Therefore, Elton John decided to start the Elton John AIDS Foundation to raise funding to help those suffering from HIV/AIDS and help spread worldwide awareness.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is among the top independent organizations worldwide against AIDS. The foundation has raised more than $525 million and supported about 3,000 projects to end AIDS in 90 countries. Additionally, 100 million people around the world obtained educational and AID prevention services to help reduce the stigma surrounding the disease.
The Million Dollar Party Fighting AIDS
The Elton John AIDS Foundation annual Oscars party raised $86 million in the last 30 years. In 2022, celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel, Demi Lovato, Andrew Rannells and sisters Patricia and Rosanna Arquette attended the event. Additionally, the funding event raised more than $8 million last year, a groundbreaking record in the event’s history. The millions of dollars will go towards funding the work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the most affected regions of the world, such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Elton John party is one of the most successful annual events raising awareness of AIDS worldwide.
Conclusion
The AIDS epidemic is still a global health problem, but many people are working towards helping eradicate the disease. Elton John’s foundation is a staple of many decades of determination to help the most affected regions and populations that die yearly of AIDS. The Elton John party goes above and beyond to raise more funding for the epidemic and galvanizes the most notable celebrities to advocate. Elton John again proves his resolve to bring awareness with his fame by hosting the Elton John party with the world’s most influential stars.
– Andres Valencia
Photo: Flickr