Last week’s United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/Aids concluded with an overwhelming majority of member states adopting a new political declaration and a reaffirmed commitment to ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaedi said the country ”remains firmly committed to ending the disease as a public health threat and ensuring no one is left behind in the next phase of the response”.
He added that the declaration sent a clear message. “HIV remains one of the defining health and development challenges of our time, and the world cannot afford complacency. We leave New York with renewed political commitment and a shared understanding that progress is possible when countries lead, communities are empowered and solidarity is sustained.”
The meeting had set important new targets in the new Global Aids Strategy 2026-2031 after weeks of negotiations with communities, civil society and partners.
It also committed to convening another meeting in 2031 to review progress after the 2030 milestone.
Goals include increasing equitable coverage of HIV testing, treatment and prevention; addressing funding gaps; protecting human rights and gender equity; expanding access to HIV medicines and other technologies through sharing of technology and strengthening local production for sustainability; and expanding the space for communities and civil society in the Aids response.
"This outcome shows that even in a very difficult global environment, countries remain committed to collective action in responding to the Aids pandemic. The challenge now is to sustain investment, strengthen partnerships and deliver results for people,” said Madalitso Baloyi, Minister of Health from Malawi.
The meeting was convened by the president of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, with co-facilitators Permanent Representative of the Republic of Botswana Ambassador David Masole, and Permanent Representative of Georgia Ambassador David Bakradze leading negotiations.
“That so many Member States voted to support this declaration is recognition that our progress remains worth protecting and that there is willingness to sustain the actions we need to achieve the 2030 goal,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
The importance of community leadership was highlighted throughout discussions and the declaration itself. There was also reaffirmation for the fact that communities continue to play an indispensable role in service delivery, accountability and reaching people left behind.
“Governments of the world, supported by communities, have … affirmed that multilateralism is alive and well. A majority of countries have adopted a strong declaration setting ambitious targets for the world to race to the 2030 goal of ending Aids as a public health threat. They have kept the promise of 25 years ago,” added Byanyima.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Where we stand with the HIV epidemic
HIV-prevention jab roll-out a game-changer for SA
UNAIDS supports SA’s HIV medicines drive
Nearly 5m South Africans placed on new HIV medicines in four years