More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

New book sheds light on women and men’s access to care and experience of care-giving in African countries
07 March 2011|
A new book publishes research that sheds fresh light on the lives of women living with HIV in African countries and their experience as recipients and givers of care.
UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Toumani Diabaté wins GRAMMY Award
16 February 2011|
UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Toumani Diabaté received a GRAMMY award for best traditional world music album for his joint album with Ali Farka Toure's entitled “Ali and Toumani”.
Judicial officials convene in Dakar for consultation on HIV, the law and human rights
08 February 2011|
Ministers of Justice and judges from across West and Central Africa gathered on 6-8 February in Dakar, Senegal, for a high-level consultation on HIV, the law and human rights. The meeting aimed to increase the engagement of judicial officials in the HIV response at national levels.
UNAIDS mission highlights HIV response among female sex workers
24 January 2011|
About 2% of the adult population in Ghana is living with HIV—a figure that has remained unchanged for the past 10 years. The number of new HIV infections in this West African nation, estimated at about 22 000 per year, has also stabilized over the past decade. Sex work in Ghana contributes to a significant proportion of new HIV infections.
Leaders call on countries to optimize resources for the AIDS response
17 December 2010|
Ministers of Health and Finance from West and Central Africa joined representatives from civil society, the private sector and the United Nations for a discussion on financing and sustaining the AIDS response in a resource-constrained environment. Participants in the meeting, co-hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), reflected on the impact of the global financial crisis, risk management, alternative funding sources, and optimizing the use of available resources.
UNAIDS and the African Council of AIDS Service Organizations sign a Memorandum of Understanding
03 December 2010|
During the civil society consultation on universal access and the Millennium Development Goals with the theme "Sustain the results – strengthen links and interactions," UNAIDS and AfriCASO signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 December in Dakar.
Captains at African Women’s Football Championship ‘Give AIDS the Red Card’ to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV
04 November 2010|
Captains of all eight national teams competing in the 2010 African Women’s Football Championship in South Africa have joined forces to support the Give AIDS the Red Card campaign to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
African HIV prisons network receives prestigious international award
02 November 2010|
The African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network has been presented with the prestigious 2010 Healthcare Award by the International Corrections and Prisons Association. Representing a major boost for the network, the award was given during the Association's recent annual conference in Belgium.
Expanding HIV services in post-conflict Liberia
20 October 2010|
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and UNAIDS and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium, wrapped up a joint three-day mission to Liberia, which as a post-conflict country is working hard to expand its HIV services.
Benin, EU and UNAIDS cooperate on technical support for HIV response
19 October 2010|
On 14 October the Government of Benin, European Union and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Technical Support Plan to enhance coordination of the AIDS response in Benin and improve the implementation of the Global Fund grants.
Liberia launches national agenda to improve the health of women and girls
18 October 2010|
Following a 14-year civil war, Liberia has faced a host of post-conflict challenges that have increased the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection, including gender-related violence, poverty, population displacement and limited access to education and health services.
African law students argue against criminalisation of HIV transmission
12 October 2010|
More than 120 young law students from 60 universities representing 24 African countries gathered in Cotonou (Benin) from 4-9 October 2010 to compete in the 19th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
President of Mali committed to AIDS response
05 October 2010|
The President of Mali, His Excellency Amadou Toumani Touré, is on a three-day visit to the United States to reinforce his country’s commitment to the AIDS response. The President is participating in the Global Fund’s Replenishment conference, taking place on 4 and 5 October and is meeting with a number of high ranking officials from the United Nations and the US administration.
Sierra Leone wins MDG Award for AIDS response
23 September 2010|
At a ceremony on the eve of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit, held in New York from 20-22 September, the Government of Sierra Leone was presented with an MDG Award for its leadership and progress towards achieving MDG 6, to stop and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015.
High-level panel to discuss ‘AIDS plus MDG’ approach
22 September 2010|
A global consensus is emerging that accelerated progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and more efficient use of resources can be achieved by taking the AIDS response out of isolation and integrating it with efforts to achieve other health and development goals. On 22 September, the last day of the UN MDG Summit in New York, UNAIDS will co-host the event ‘AIDS plus MDGs: Delivering results towards our shared commitments’ together with the Governments of China, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa.
MDGs Summit: Nigerian AIDS activist optimistic about success
21 September 2010|
Lucy Attah has high hopes for this week’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit. As a woman living with HIV and a gender activist from Nigeria, she believes the summit is an important opportunity to discuss issues of women’s equality and empowerment and achieving universal access to HIV services.
H.E Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia, Chair of OAFLA and Mr Michel Sidibé
African First Ladies and UNAIDS to work together for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
03 August 2010|
In its 8th General Assembly, members of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) gathered in Kampala, Uganda, to deliberate on the theme of “Maternal and Child Health.” The First Ladies renewed their commitment to champion the well-being of African women and children in a Declaration presented at the end of the meeting.
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UNDP’s Administrator Helen Clark concludes four-country Africa tour
21 May 2010|
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark recently ended a four-country tour of Africa to highlight progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the run-up to the MDGs Summit in September 2010. Ms Clark travelled to Mali, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and South Africa.
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A mother’s joy, a mother’s challenge: Cameroon copes with mother to child HIV transmission
21 May 2010|
After almost ten years, 28-year old Angele is a mother again. “My daughter is my joy. She is such a wonder,” said the young woman who wishes to keep her identity a secret as she is living with HIV in Oug-ebe, a shantytown in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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African nations celebrate 50th anniversary
20 May 2010|
The heads of seven African states are in Yaoundé at the invitation of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their countries’ independence on Thursday. The seven leaders, who come mostly from central Africa, also took part in the closing ceremony of the international conference “Africa 21” on Wednesday evening.

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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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