Parliamentarians should collaborate worldwide to end the AIDS epidemic, according to the participants of the Ending the AIDS Epidemic as a Public Health Threat by 2030 workshop, which took place during the opening day of the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany.
The workshop was organized by UNAIDS and the German Healthcare Partnership to bring together legislators, civil society, the private sector and academic leaders to explore ways to reach the Fast-Track Targets on ending the AIDS epidemic by innovating, accelerating and focusing their HIV programmes and policies.
In addition to political leadership, the session identified other essential factors necessary to meet the political targets agreed by United Nations Member States at the 2016 General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS and reviewed the latest progress in HIV diagnostics and treatment, investment and social engagement.
The participants also discussed how countries, cities and communities should prioritize their efforts to achieve the end of AIDS, what policy frameworks and innovative and alternative investment sources can be developed and utilized and how health systems can be strengthened to end AIDS and meet the Sustainable Development Goals without leaving anyone behind.
Participants
A broad spectrum of private sector, community, scientific and political representatives participated in the event, including UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Luiz Loures.
Key messages
The participants called for a new network of like-minded politicians from across the political spectrum to take action on health and HIV. They emphasized the need to reflect local realities while making best use of scientific knowledge and tools for preventing new HIV infections.
The participants stressed the importance of keeping young women in school in order to avoid them acquiring HIV infection from older men and noted that key populations—including prisoners—must have unfettered access to HIV prevention tools.
The participants called on governments to actively involve the private sector in the response to HIV and stressed the need to empower UNAIDS as a coordinator and communicator. They warned that without sufficient investment there would be a resurgent and resistant HIV epidemic.
The participants noted the necessity of building greater trust in communities and exploring incentives for people to adhere to treatment and that newer technologies, such as self-testing, community-based testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis, were showing great promise.
They also noted that it is necessary to improve infrastructure and strengthen systems of health in order to ensure that people in need are supported and retained.
“HIV IS A TEST. WE HAVE THE TOOLS, BUT WE DON’T REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE. IF WE DO NOT SUCCEED, IT QUESTIONS WHETHER WE WILL FAIL WITH OTHER DISEASES.”
Roland Göhde Chairman of the Board, German Healthcare Partnership, Germany
“AIDS IS NOT OVER. WE LIVE IN A PARADOX, BETWEEN PROGRESS IN TREATMENT AND HAVING THE TOOLS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME SEEING THE RE-EMERGENCE OF NEW INFECTIONS. WE LOOK TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED, TO HELP FIND THE WAY TO RESOLVE THESE CHALLENGES.”
Luiz Loures Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
“WE CAN NEVER SEPARATE HUMAN RIGHTS FROM OTHER ISSUES. IT IS INTEGRAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH.”
Bernard Haufiku Minister of Health, Namibia
“IT IS TIME FOR CONCRETE ACTION. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONG TIME. COMMUNITIES ARE WAITING FOR ACTION, IF WE REALLY WANT TO END AIDS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT BY 2030.”
Xavier Crespin Director-General, West African Health Organization
“WE HAVE TO EXPLORE HOW TO RE-ENGINEER THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND ASSIGN FUNDING AGAINST THE GOALS, INCLUDING THE 90–90–90 TARGETS. WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES.”
Ricardo B. Leite Member of Parliament, Portugal
“WE MUST EMPHASIZE PREVENTION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTION OF SEXUAL PARTNERS.”
Elisabeth Pott Chair of the German AIDS Foundation
“IF THE WORLD DOES NOT MAKE THE INVESTMENT OVER THE NEXT DECADE, WE WILL HAVE A RESURGENT EPIDEMIC AND A RESISTANT EPIDEMIC.”
Till Bärnighausen Adjunct Professor, Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Unites States of America
“OUR BELIEF HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT, EVEN IF WE MAY NOT BE INFECTED BY HIV, WE ARE AFFECTED BY HIV.”
Rajedran Bhimaraj Country Manager, Roche, South Africa
