AFRICA – African Ministers of Health have joined forces with global health institutions and partners to sustain their commitments to end AIDS as well as accelerate their response to current and future pandemics.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to end AIDS during a high-level side event on “Political Leadership in the HIV Response” co-organized by UNAIDS and PEPFAR on the margins of the high-level week of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

African governments were represented by Ministers of Health from Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa.

From South Africa, the country with the world’s largest HIV epidemic, Minister of Health Joe Phaahla called for accelerated momentum to end AIDS, and the urgency of halting HIV incidence, particularly in young people in South Africa,” UNAIDS announced in an official statement.

The side event also saw the attendance of the Director of Public Health from Nigeria, speaking on behalf of H.E. President Buhari, as well as H.E. Neo Jane Masisi, the First Lady of Botswana.

The event highlighted continued progress in combating HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, which has been largely sustained despite the enormous challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also provided an opportunity for attendees from selected African countries to highlight achievements and milestones in improving the patient experience of care.

For instance, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made the fight against HIV a national priority and increased domestic funding for HIV in a bid to reduce AIDS-related mortality.

Eswatini has reached the epidemic control and the 95-95-95 targets. We couldn’t have reached this success without PEPFAR, UNAIDS and the Global Fund and so many other partners,” said Senator Lizzie Nkosi, the Minister of Health of Eswatini.

In addition, the Minister of Health of Botswana highlighted the remarkable results Botswana has achieved and recognized the strong continued support of partners in Botswana’s progress to end AIDS.

Côte d’Ivoire has also reinforced health systems and provided financing for HIV programs while reinforcing its network of community health workers to reach people most in need and working closely with the education sector.

According to UNAIDS, Rwanda has been investing in institutional reforms in the health sector and continues to increase its domestic health funding.

Rather than having individual programs for HIV, TB and malaria, we have created and financed a sustainable, integrated system,” said Daniel Ngamije, Minister of Health of Rwanda.

He further said that for effective management of domestic resources, the government created the Rwanda Biomedical Center which has a multifaceted approach.

The actions needed to end AIDS are also key for overcoming other pandemics and for protecting ourselves against future threats. We can end AIDS by 2030. But the curve will not bend itself, we have to pull it down together,” Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS underscored.

At the same time, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy underscored that the HIV response has defined global health for 25 years.

 “We have made remarkable progress, but we still have remarkable challenges going forward to end AIDS. It is time to ask where we go from here,” he said.

He further said that PEPFAR, the Global Fund and UNAIDS represent the best of humanity when we apply our minds to solving problems.”

In addition, Ambassador Nkengasong took the opportunity to launch “Reimagining PEPFAR’s Strategic Direction, Fulfilling America’s Promise to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by 2030”, which focuses on key priority areas.

The four priority areas include health equity for priority populations such as children, adolescent girls and young women, long-term sustainability, positioning platforms to serve as civil society front and center as well as leading with science. 

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria expressed his appreciation for the support to the Global Fund at its 7th Replenishment conference which mobilized US$14.2 billion.

One of the things we learned with COVID is that we have got to get smart at making investments that can serve multiple needs at once. A broader approach for health systems that can fight multiple diseases and cope with future threats.” Sands added.

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