Update

Senegal supports efforts to increase treatment coverage for people living with HIV in western and central Africa

11 October 2016

President Macky Sall of Senegal, who met with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé in Dakar, Senegal, on 7 October, vowed to support an emergency plan to reach the goal of 90% of people living with HIV in western and central Africa accessing antiretroviral therapy by 2020.

In 2015, 28% of the 6.5 million people living with HIV in the region had access to the life-saving medicine, up from 14% in 2010.

During the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, held in June 2016, Mr Sidibé appealed to countries to Fast-Track the AIDS response in order to ensure that no one is left behind.

Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible if, by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% who know their HIV-positive status are accessing treatment and 90% of people living with HIV on treatment have suppressed viral loads.

While in Senegal, Mr Sidibé also met the Minister of Health, Awa Marie Coll-Seck, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mankeur Ndiaye.

Quotes

“Not only do we support this emergency plan for the whole region, but in Senegal we are going to increase the resources dedicated to the HIV response in order to sustain our efforts.”

Macky Sall President of Senegal

“We must act now and Fast-Frack the response to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”

Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director