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Michel Sidibé began the day at a breakfast meeting hosted by AIDS Watch Africa (AWA)—a key African-led platform for advocacy and accountability in the continent’s responses to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. During the meeting, he consulted with Mr Jean Ping, Chair of the African Union Commission (left), and President Boni Yayi of Bénin (right), who serves as Chair of the African Union and Chair of AIDS Watch Africa. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose

"Africa needs AWA now more than ever,” said Mr Sidibé, addressing more than 20 high-level African officials at the AWA breakfast meeting. “We need AWA to cultivate a common voice in Africa—one that embraces AIDS, TB, malaria and other health challenges. We need AWA to provide oversight of health investments and to leverage those investments for broader development,” he said. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose

Following the breakfast meeting, Michel Sidibé signed, on behalf of UNAIDS, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pan African Parliament calling for strategic partnership to advance sustainable responses to HIV. “By partnering with legislators, we can close inequity gaps and get to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose

Through this new partnership, UNAIDS will empower legislators across Africa with up-to-date knowledge and information on HIV. Legislators, in turn, will become high-level advocates for national and regional HIV responses. They will work to ensure accountability, push through non-discrimination laws and encourage governments to commit the necessary resources. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose

Later in the day, Mr Sidibé met with Penehupifo Pohamba, First Lady of Namibia and President of the Organization of First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA). The First Lady underscored her personal commitment to Africa’s HIV response and said she would mobilize OAFLA to advocate around key issues—in particular, preventing new HIV infections among children. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose

Later in the day, Michel Sidibé addressed the 27th Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee. He presented a new Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity developed by the African Union Commission and NEPAD, with support from UNAIDS. The Roadmap charts a new course for Africa’s responses to HIV, TB and malaria through 2015. Photo: UNAIDS/J.Ose