More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

Joint PEPFAR-UNAIDS mission spotlights progress and challenges in preventing new HIV infections among children in Nigeria
26 April 2012|
Preventing new HIV infections among children and saving mothers’ lives were high on the agenda in a two-day mission to Nigeria by Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, and Ambassador Eric Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
Nigerian governors commit to stopping new HIV infections in children
25 April 2012|
In a round-table discussion, high-level representatives from six Nigerian states committed to working with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to eliminate new HIV infections in children. The meeting came at the start of a joint two-day mission to Abuja by UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Sidibé and Ambassador Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
Prioritising gender equality in response to AIDS in Liberia
13 April 2012|
Cynthia Quaqua is a mother, wife, the president of the Liberian Women’s Empowerment Network (LIWEN), and, perhaps most importantly, a survivor. Raped by soldiers during the Liberian civil war, she became pregnant as a young woman. Years later she fell ill and was diagnosed with HIV. Suddenly, she found herself abandoned by her relatives even began discussing where to bury her.
UNAIDS and African Development Bank convene high-level meeting on AIDS financing
30 March 2012|
How can African countries ensure a financially sustainable response to HIV? UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé explored this topical issue in a breakfast briefing on 27 March with African Ministers of Finance and other high-level participants from the region. Co-convened by UNAIDS and the African Development Bank, the round-table discussion was held on the sidelines of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance.
Increased domestic funding for AIDS is a ‘national priority,’ says the President of Côte d’Ivoire
28 February 2012|
Meeting on 27 February with President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé noted with concern that the country relies heavily on external aid to finance its national AIDS response—a trend seen in many countries across Africa.
UNAIDS Executive Director calls for greater local production of HIV medicines in Ghana
UNAIDS Executive Director calls for greater local production of HIV medicines in Ghana
24 February 2012|
Meeting today with John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé sounded a theme from his recent missions in Bénin and Togo: sustainability of the AIDS response in Africa.
UNAIDS Executive Director calls for increased national spending on AIDS in Togo
UNAIDS Executive Director calls for increased national spending on AIDS in Togo
23 February 2012|
Sustainable financing for the AIDS response was a key topic of discussion in a meeting on 21 February between UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo of Togo.
UNAIDS Executive Director meets with Bénin’s Head of State
UNAIDS Executive Director meets with Bénin’s Head of State
22 February 2012|
In an official meeting with President Boni Yayi of Bénin on 20 February, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called on the country’s Head of State to use his position and influence as President of the African Union to accelerate the HIV response across the continent.
Bénin launches national plan to prevent new HIV infections among children
20 February 2012|
The Government of the Republic Bénin, in collaboration with UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and partners, today launched a national plan aimed at eliminating new HIV infections among children and improving the health of their mothers.
Brazilian football legend Pelé joined Gabon’s “CAN without AIDS” Campaign
Brazilian football legend Pelé joined Gabon’s “CAN without AIDS” Campaign
15 February 2012|
On 10 February 2012, Brazilian football legend Pelé took thousands of young people by storm during a beach soccer tournament organized in Gabon alongside the 2012 Coupe d’Afrique des Nations (or “CAN”). After the tournament, “O Rei” Pelé joined President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and the First Lady at a beach event organized as part of the “CAN without AIDS” campaign.
UNAIDS: Sourcing African solutions will be critical to ending Africa’s ‘AIDS dependency crisis’
28 January 2012|
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called today on African governments to take on a greater share of AIDS investments in their own countries and across the region. Addressing an audience of African Heads of State in Addis Ababa, Mr Sidibé said that financing a sustainable response to the HIV epidemic in Africa will require home grown and innovative solutions that meet the needs of the African people.
“CAN without AIDS”: reaching youth with HIV prevention messages at the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament
25 January 2012|
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé travelled to the West African nation of Gabon on 23 January to lend his support to an innovative campaign launched by the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation—a charitable organization run by Gabon’s First Lady.
Political commitment towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children in Burundi
09 November 2011|
Burundi is a small densely populated country located in sub-Saharan Africa with an HIV prevalence of 2.97% among the general population. It is also one of 22 countries worldwide that has contributed to the development of and signed up to implement the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.
Ghanaian AIDS advocate cycles the globe to raise awareness and leadership on HIV
10 August 2011|
Shisu Yakubu of Ghana bikes from West Africa to address the issue of HIV.
UNAIDS and Global Fund support countries in west and central Africa to optimise resources for HIV
02 August 2011|
UNAIDS and the Global Fund have convened a meeting in Dakar, Senegal, to respond to the increasing need for risk management and accountability related to HIV funding.
Celebration of Africa Liberation Day and the International Year for People of African Descent
01 June 2011|
The Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations in partnership with the United Nations Senior Africans Group and the African Diaspora hosted an event at the UN on 31 May to celebrate African Liberation Day.
UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway calls to action during the Mali Youth Summit on HIV
19 April 2011|
UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway travelled to Bamako, Mali to participate in the Youth Summit on HIV, an event convened under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, and co-hosted by UNAIDS.
Young people convene in Mali to revolutionize the AIDS response
15 April 2011|
A youth summit convened under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, and co-hosted by UNAIDS provides a forum for young leaders to commit themselves in innovative ways to mobilize young people for the AIDS response.
Guinea’s President and First Lady to attend the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS
15 April 2011|
President Alpha Condé and the First Lady, Ms Djene Kaba Condé, will participate in this year’s UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS. The announcement came during a two-day official visit by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé to the West African nation of Guinea Conakry.
National ownership of the AIDS response essential for universal access in West and Central Africa
07 March 2011|
Stakeholders in the AIDS response across West and Central Africa met in Dakar, Senegal from 3–4 March 2011 to review progress made towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

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31 July 2013

UNAIDS urges Greek authorities to repeal Sanitary Decree. More

17 July 2013

UNAIDS condemns killing of AIDS activist Eric Lembembe. More

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