The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, welcomed the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, to UNAIDS headquarters on 25 April. During their meeting, they reviewed the substantial progress made in stopping new HIV infections among children in Côte d’Ivoire. More than 80% of pregnant women living with HIV in Côte d’Ivoire have access to antiretroviral therapy, up from 48% in 2009, and new infections among children have dropped by 26% since 2009.

In December 2014, Mr Sidibé presented Ms Ouattara with the title of UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission and the Promotion of Paediatric Treatment for HIV for her humanitarian work and her commitment to improving access to paediatric treatment for children living with HIV. 

During her visit to UNAIDS, Mr Sidibé commended the First Lady’s work in raising awareness around HIV in western and central Africa. He also outlined the importance of focusing on women, children and adolescents in cities, particularly in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire, where more than one third of all people living with HIV in the country live.

Ms Ouattara, a long-time humanitarian activist, conveyed her thanks to UNAIDS and reiterated her commitment to focus on early paediatric diagnosis, treatment and education and on achieving zero discrimination.