Elton John AIDS Foundation and Duke of Sussex Collaboration

On 24/07/2018, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, joined the Elton John AIDS Foundation and global health partners to launch the MenStar Coalition during the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The initiative was introduced to address lower rates of HIV testing and treatment among men, particularly in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. The MenStar Coalition brought together major international organizations, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time of its launch, the coalition represented more than $1.2 billion in planned funding commitments aimed at expanding HIV services for men. The program focused on increasing access to diagnosis, improving treatment uptake, and reducing transmission rates. A central objective of the initiative was to target gaps in engagement, as data has shown that men are statistically less likely than women to undergo HIV testing or remain in treatment programs. By improving outreach and access, the coalition aimed to contribute to the broader global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with international health targets. One of the first projects introduced under the MenStar Coalition was a self-testing campaign in Kenya, specifically designed to reach young men. The approach sought to reduce stigma associated with clinic-based testing by enabling private and accessible HIV screening methods. Prince Harry’s involvement reflected his ongoing work in public health and HIV awareness, building on earlier efforts linked to organizations such as Sentebale. Why This Moment Matters: The launch of the MenStar Coalition aligned high-level funding and international partnerships toward a specific gap in HIV response, focusing on improving testing and treatment access for men in regions with high infection rates.