Introduction Long-acting injectable ARVs are a major breakthrough in HIV prevention and treatment. They are used as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative people, particularly those at high risk of contracting HIV, and as light therapy for people living with HIV with stable virological suppression on antiretroviral treatment. By reducing the frequency of doses taken, this therapy…
Context The UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets are a set of ambitious goals aimed at ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The first of these targets is to ensure that 95% of all people living with HIV are aware of their HIV status. Achieving this target is crucial, as knowing one’s status is the first step towards…
This initiative in Benin focuses on the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society players, NGOs/associations, disease programs, technical and financial partners, various ministries, the private sector, and key/vulnerable populations. The goal is to develop the 2024-2030 Integrated National Strategic Plan to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, viral hepatitis, and other epidemic-prone…
What does it take to transform health outcomes across an entire continent? The African region’s proactive stance in realizing the Lusaka Agenda provides the answer. The Africa Regional Roadmap on the Lusaka agenda, set to be unveiled at the WHO Africa Region’s Regional Committee meeting in August 2024, underscores the power of collective action. It’s a…
Among the well-thought-out facets of the Global Fund is the Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) initiative. RSSH is central to many of the Global Fund’s primary goals, including sustainability, transition, and repositioning, ultimately leading to a stronger healthcare system that serves all citizens effectively. This hidden gem within the Global Fund initiative plays…
Background On 6 March 2024, the conference entitled “Tackling malaria in the countries hardest hit by the disease” was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with the aim of strengthening political and financial commitment to an accelerated response to malaria in the 12 countries with a high burden of malaria, 11 of which are on the African…
The 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) was held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 4 to 9 December 2023. It brought together over 6,000 participants from around 100 countries, including many community representatives, under the theme “AIDS is not over: Address inequalities, accelerate inclusion and innovation”. The conference, opened by the President…
HIV in children remains a major public health concern, and was a recurring topic, with at least four sessions devoted to the issue by various speakers at the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Due to slow progress in scaling up access to treatment for children living…
Empower them for Sustainable Development Care and support for HIV infected and affected weigh heavily on the woman and the girl child. Girls are often pulled out of school to care for the sick and prepare food. Without formal education and empowerment for prevention, they remain vulnerable and become exposed to HIV infection and reinfection.…
Community, Rights and Gender (GRC) discussions share many similarities with those on HSS: progress is often slow and non-linear. Our partnership’s three-year cycle and Key Performance Indicators system that work so well for our biomedical approach to fighting diseases appear ill-suited for the complex tasks of changing minds or century-old attitudes and behaviours. Societal changes…