UNICEF The United Nations Children's Fund

The campaign, ‘Where history is made,’ invites guests to make history and make a pledge for an AIDS-free generation

GENEVA, 16 December 2013—UNAIDS and the hotel InterContinental Genève have come together in a public-private partnership to advance efforts to ensure that all children can be born free from HIV, that their mothers have access to life-saving medicines and that all children living with HIV can lead healthy lives.

Countries have committed to eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015. Although great progress has been made—with new HIV infections among children having been reduced by 53% since 2001—there is still a major push needed to help countries reach their goals. In 2013, just 28% of children in need of treatment had access.

“By keeping children free from HIV we are not only saving lives, we are investing in a healthier future for generations to come,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I am honoured that the hotel InterContinental Genève is partnering with us to provide more people with the opportunity to join our efforts in making an AIDS-free generation possible.”  

One of the first initiatives of the joint partnership is the launch of a campaign to raise both awareness and funds for an AIDS-free generation. The campaign, Where history is made, launched at a special event held at the hotel on 16 December, invites guests to make history and a pledge for an AIDS-free generation. Hotel staff will play an integral role with AIDS-awareness training and will be able to share information with guests about the importance of keeping children free from HIV. Hotel guests will be able to join the campaign by making a donation as they check out or when they visit the hotel restaurant or bar.

“The hotel has a longstanding history and relationship with the UN in Geneva, and we are excited to have formed this partnership with UNAIDS,” said the General Manager of the hotel InterContinental Genève, Jürgen Baumhoff.

The hotel InterContinental Genève is an important landmark in Geneva, standing at the intersection of the city and the United Nations. In 2014 the hotel will mark its 50th anniversary over which time it has welcomed world leaders and played host to the historic brokering of deals and forging of partnerships. The campaign between UNAIDS and the hotel InterContinental Genève is part of the hotel’s 50-year celebrations and captures the essence of this major milestone by joining efforts to achieve an AIDS-free generation.  

“Building healthier societies begins with children,” said UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador and internationally acclaimed musician Toumani Diabaté who performed at the special launch event. “We can all be part of history by making sure that women living with HIV and their children have access to HIV, prevention, treatment and care services.”

UNICEF report shows that new infections among adolescents could be halved by 2020 with targeted and increased investment

NEW YORK, 29 November 2013 – A new report released today by UNICEF shows great progress has been made to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with more than 850,000 new childhood infections averted between 2005 and 2012 in low- and middle-income countries.

However, the new 2013 Stocktaking Report on Children and AIDS raises the alarm on adolescents, citing the need for increased global and national efforts to address HIV and AIDS among this vulnerable age group.

AIDS-related deaths amongst adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 increased by 50 per cent between 2005 and 2012, rising from 71,000 to 110,000, in stark contrast to progress made in preventing mother-to-child transmission. There were approximately 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV in 2012.

With additional funding and increased investment in innovation, many of the challenges could be overcome, the report says.

A new analysis featured in the report shows that by increasing investment in high-impact interventions to about US$5.5 billion by 2014, 2 million adolescents, particularly girls, could avoid becoming infected by 2020. Investments in 2010 were US$3.8 billion.

“If high-impact interventions are scaled up using an integrated approach, we can halve the number of new infections among adolescents by 2020,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “It’s a matter of reaching the most vulnerable adolescents with effective programmes – urgently.”

High-impact interventions include condoms, antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, voluntary medical male circumcision, communications for behaviour change, and targeted approaches for at-risk and marginalized populations. This is in addition to investments in other sectors such as education, social protection and welfare, and strengthening health systems.

In contrast to adolescents, progress has been impressive in the area of preventing new HIV infections among infants. Some 260,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2012, compared to 540,000 in 2005.

“This report reminds us that an AIDS-free generation is one in which all children are born free of HIV and remain so––from birth and throughout their lives––and it means access to treatment for all children living with HIV,” said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “It also reminds us that women’s health and well-being should be at the centre of the AIDS response. I have no doubt that we will achieve these goals.”

Thanks to new, simplified life-long antiretroviral treatment (known as Option B+), there is a greater opportunity to effectively treat women living with HIV and to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies during pregnancy, delivery, and through breastfeeding. This treatment involves a daily one-pill regimen.

“These days, even if a pregnant woman is living with HIV, it doesn’t mean her baby must have the same fate, and it doesn’t mean she can’t lead a healthy life,” said Lake.

Some of the most remarkable successes were in high HIV burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa. New infections among infants declined between 2009 and 2012 by 76 per cent in Ghana, 58 per cent in Namibia, 55 per cent in Zimbabwe, 52 per cent in Malawi and Botswana, and 50 per cent in Zambia and Ethiopia.

The new report also emphasizes that for an AIDS-free generation to become a reality, more children living with HIV should receive antiretroviral treatment. Only 34 per cent of children living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries received the treatment they needed in 2012, compared to 64 per cent of adults. As a result, an estimated 210,000 children died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2012.

Innovations and new ways of working are making testing and treatment more accessible, effective and efficient. One example is the use of mobile phones in Zambia and Malawi to quickly deliver HIV test results. This has allowed mothers to receive diagnoses for their babies much faster than through results delivered by hand.

The challenge now is to apply the knowledge that already exists, continue to focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents, and pursue new opportunities and innovations—while using finite resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.

“The world now has the experience and the tools to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Children should be the first to benefit from our successes in defeating HIV, and the last to suffer when we fall short,” said Lake.

The report will be available at www.childrenandaids.org

Attention broadcasters: Video news stories and b-roll from Botswana, Ivory Coast, and Malawi are available at http://weshare.unicef.org/mediaresources

Note for Editors:

• About the simplified life-long antiretroviral treatment (Option B+):

UNICEF is supporting countries as they transition to the new simplified life-long antiretroviral therapy (Option B+) for all pregnant women living with HIV. The new treatment is in the form of one pill, taken once a day (compared to the previous treatment of up to six pills per day).This treatment can be provided at the community level, at local primary care facilities. It keeps mothers healthier, as they continue taking it even after giving birth, through breastfeeding and beyond. Malawi was a pioneer in offering the Option B+ treatment in 2011, resulting in massive expansion of the treatment coverage for both pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. By June 2013, 13 of the 22 Global Plan priority countries had adopted the same policy of offering life-long treatment.

• About the Stocktaking Reports:

Stocktaking reports on Children and AIDS are the flagship publications of the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign. UNICEF leads the production of these publications as part of its commitment to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in collaboration with UNAIDS and the other 10 UNAIDS co-sponsors. The new ‘Children and AIDS: Sixth Stocktaking Report’ is the first of its kind since 2010.

About UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do.  Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

For further information, please contact:

Rita Ann Wallace, UNICEF Media New York, tel: + 1 212 326 7586, rwallace@unicef.org
Iman Morooka, UNICEF Strategic Communications, New York, tel: + 1 212 326 7211, imorooka@unicef.org
Sophie Barton-Knott, UNAIDS Geneva, tel: +41 22 791 1697, bartonknotts@unaids.org

UNAIDS and the hotel InterContinental Genève are entering into a new partnership. The collaboration comes as the landmark Geneva hotel will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at a ceremony on the 21 November at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva. During the ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé discussed the importance of the active involvement of the private sector in the response to HIV with the General Manager of the hotel InterContinental Genève, Jürgen Baumhoff.

The public-private partnership will focus on a number of issues including ensuring children are born free from HIV and that their mothers can continue with antiretroviral therapy. Another important aspect is ensuring children living with HIV have timely access to life-saving treatment.

One of the first initiatives of the joint partnership will be the launch of a campaign to raise awareness and funds for an AIDS-free generation. The campaign will be launched on 16 December 2013.

Obstetricians and gynecologists, ministers, public health specialists and civil society organizations convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 2-5 October at the First International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Africa Regional Conference to discuss ways of improving maternal and child health in Africa.

Speaking at the opening, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Luiz Loures highlighted the link between HIV and maternal and child health. He called for women’s health and HIV communities to closely work together to increase access to life-saving health services to reach the most marginalized in society.  He also stressed the need to uphold the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV. 

In sub-Saharan Africa, women are more likely to be living with HIV than men, accounting for 58% of the 22.1 million adults who were living with HIV in the region in 2012. Young women are particularly at risk of HIV infection–– around 28% of all new adult HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa are among young women between the ages of 15-24. HIV is also a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age and has a major impact on child health and mortality, mainly through the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

Dr Loures congratulated FIGO on its visionary and bold work on women’s sexual and reproductive rights. He also underscored UNAIDS commitment to strengthening its collaboration with FIGO to raise political visibility and engage women’s networks on HIV and sexual and reproductive rights issues to reduce AIDS related maternal and child mortality.

The African Union international conference on maternal, newborn and child health is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1 to 3 August. Credit: UNAIDS

In 2012, more than 200 000 children were newly infected with HIV among the 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where almost 90% of the world’s HIV transmissions to children occur.  While this was a 38% decline from 2009, it still means that nearly 600 children were newly infected each day.

As part of on-going efforts to improve the health of women and children across Africa, the African Union recently convened an international conference on maternal, newborn and child health in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference, which runs from 1 to 3 August, addresses a number of important issues including service delivery and quality of service, access to medicines, family planning and task shifting. It also looks specifically at the impact of HIV on women and children and how to ensure increased access to essential HIV services.  

“As leaders we have the power to ensure that no woman dies giving life. We also have the power to ensure that no child dies from an avoidable cause,” said the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma during the opening ceremony of the conference.

Stopping new HIV infections among children and ensuring their mothers have access to HIV services including treatment for their own health is a top priority for UNAIDS. In 2011, UNAIDS and PEPFAR spearheaded a new initiative which has been embraced by the global community. The Global Plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive (Global Plan) has set the ambitious goal for 2015 of reducing new HIV infections among children by 90% and reducing AIDS-related maternal and paediatric mortality by 50%.

To highlight the urgent need to scale up progress, UNAIDS held a special session at the conference to build on momentum around the Global Plan and address bottlenecks in the African countries where most new HIV infections among children occur. During the session UNAIDS reported that while seven countries have shown a rapid decline in new HIV infections (50% or more decline between 2009 and 2012), six others are showing signs of stagnation (less than 30% decline), and the remaining seven show moderate performance (30-49% decline).

“We need to reflect on how we shift the paradigm of how we are working today. The paradigm is a disease approach, but we need a holistic approach. We cannot afford to have women coming in to the facility and being addressed for TB on one day; HIV on another day... We need to consider her as a woman – a whole human being – who needs holistic support,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé.

The African Union is a strong supporter of the Global Plan and has actively advocated for increased efforts to expand access to HIV services for women and children.

“The focus on maternal, newborn and child health is not expenditure, it is an investment. It is an investment in our common humanity and our common survival… We can do it, we must do it. We have no choice,” said African Union Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Biggest year on year increase as numbers of people accessing antiretroviral therapy increase by 1.6 million from 2011 to 2012

GENEVA, 30 June 2013—A new report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Global update on HIV treatment 2013: results, impact and opportunities, shows a huge acceleration in the roll out and uptake of antiretroviral therapy since 2011. A record 9.7 million people living with HIV were accessing treatment in 2012 compared to just over 8.1 million in 2011––an increase of 1.6 million in one year alone.

New guidelines from WHO, issued together with the report, give clear recommendations that people living with HIV should start antiretroviral therapy much earlier, and immediately in some instances. Under this new guidance some 26 million (25.9 million) people will now be eligible for antiretroviral therapy, an additional 9.2 million from the previous 2010 guidance.

“It is our moral and scientific obligation to reach as many people as we can with antiretroviral therapy” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “This is what we will continue to strive for and we believe that we can significantly scale up access to treatment even within the current financial envelope.”

By making strategic efficiencies in HIV programming, UNAIDS estimates that expansion of treatment can be accelerated within the existing resource needs of between US$ 22-24 billion for 2015. “With smart planning, we estimate that cost savings of around 20% could be made by 2015 which, if invested smartly, would allow us to reach yet more people with lifesaving antiretroviral therapy.”

UNAIDS estimates that cost savings could be achieved through three main areas; a reduction in costs of medicines and medical supplies, particularly as volumes increase; simplifying delivery systems; and increasing efficiencies within the overall AIDS response.

Significant successes in reducing costs have been achieved in recent years. For example the price of medicines to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV was reduced from US$ 800 in 2011 to below US$ 100 in 2013. Through a more competitive bidding process, South Africa has reduced the cost of procurement of antiretrovirals to the lowest price anywhere in the world at US$ 113 per person per year for the fixed dose combination recommended in the new guidelines. This has resulted in a 53% reduction in expenditure on antiretroviral treatment for South Africa.

The report also highlights that the United States President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) estimates that by leveraging existing opportunities for cost efficiencies it has more than halved the average cost per person receiving treatment in PEPFAR supported programmes––from more than US$ 1000 per person per year in 2004 to less than US$ 400 per person per year in 2011.

Additional savings are expected as methods of testing for HIV become simpler and easier to administer (a fingerpick HIV test for example can now give results in 30 minutes). Other efficiencies are being made as more and more HIV services are being integrated into existing structures such as antenatal clinics and TB facilities.

The challenge set by the new guidelines will encourage countries, donors and partners in the AIDS response to strive for even greater results. If the recommendations in the new guidelines are implemented they would avert an estimated 13.5 million deaths and 19 million new HIV infections by 2025.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, Jan Beagle (3rd left) participating in the THINK WISE events organized for the 2013 Champions Trophy final at the Edgbaston stadium. Credit: Getty images

The final match of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy tournament held on Sunday 23 June in Birmingham, UK was dedicated to the THINK WISE HIV awareness campaign—a partnership between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNAIDS and UNICEF that uses the power of cricket and cricket players to reach out to large numbers of people—particularly young people—on AIDS issues.

The final also marked the ten year partnership between ICC and UNAIDS, whose joint work commenced in 2003. UNICEF joined the partnership in 2006 and in 2009 the three partners initiated the THINK WISE awareness campaign.

As England and India battled out the 2013 Champions Trophy final at the Edgbaston stadium, THINK WISE was promoted throughout the stadium via public service broadcasts, boundary banners, promotional leaflets and through the special Final commemorative match programme, also dedicated to the 10-year AIDS partnership.

Noting the success of the 2013 Champions Trophy THINK WISE activities, ICC President Alan Isaac said, “It brings me great pleasure that the ICC’s partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF is flourishing. Through the THINK WISE initiative, we are sending a message to the world about the importance of getting the facts about HIV and stopping stigma towards people living with HIV.”

The THINK WISE campaign, which emphasizes the key messages ‘Get the facts about HIV; Protect yourself; Stop stigma’ has been profiled throughout the 2013 Champions Trophy with dedicated matches, site visits and coaching clinics with the players and other promotional activities. During the final game both teams as well as match officials and ICC and staff from the English Cricket Board wore red ribbons to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding people living with HIV.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, Jan Beagle, attended the final. She walked out on the pitch with the teams for the National Anthems, together with the ICC President, the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board and two representatives of people living with HIV, to show solidarity with people around the globe living with HIV.

Commending the ICC on its commitment to AIDS awareness Ms Beagle said, “I am moved to see the dedication of the ICC and cricket players to promoting HIV prevention and reaching zero discrimination for people living with HIV. UNAIDS firmly believes in the ability of the THINK WISE partnership to be a powerful force for change, for more equitable and inclusive societies—within the ICC family, in communities and across countries.”

As at previous ICC international cricket tournaments, throughout the Champions Trophy international players from a selection of teams took time out to take part in THINK WISE coaching clinics and site visits. For example, the West Indies and New Zealand teams welcomed school children from London and Cardiff to special coaching sessions where they learned valuable cricketing tips and exchanged information on HIV prevention and stigma. Members of the England and South African international teams visited the Terrence Higgins Trust where they met with people living with HIV and some team members opted to take rapid HIV tests.

60 children from three London schools had the chance to learn cricketing skills from the West Indies team as part of the THINK Wise initiative. 5 June, 2013 in London, England.
Credit: ICC/Getty Images

Cricketing greats from around the world have once more teamed up to promote HIV prevention and anti-stigma messages as part of the global THINK WISE campaign on AIDS. The initiative will run through the 2013 International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy Tournament taking place from 6-23 June in England and Wales.

A partnership between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNAIDS and UNICEF, THINK WISE uses the power of cricket and cricket players to reach out to large numbers of people—particularly young people—on AIDS issues. The partnership will be profiled at the prestigious international tournament through dedicated matches, site visits and coaching clinics with international players and other promotional activities.

“I am delighted once again that the ICC is partnering with THINK WISE to continue promoting the importance of HIV awareness,” said ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson.

Celebrating ten years of the ICC working with its UN partners on AIDS, the ICC is dedicating six of the Champions Trophy matches—including the Final—to THINK WISE. Messages on the importance of HIV prevention and the elimination of stigma towards people living with HIV are the central focus of the campaign.

Over the years, THINK WISE has inspired many leading cricketers to join efforts to promote HIV prevention and reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Current and former players who have championed the campaign include Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Darren Sammy (West Indies), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) and Virender Sehwag (India).

“As we mark 10 years of action on AIDS through cricket, we have seen how cricket can unite billions of people across the globe. The THINK WISE global cricket AIDS partnership and the inspiring involvement of cricketing greats gives important profile and builds momentum towards changing and saving lives,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel sidibé.

At THINK WISE matches, all participating teams and officials wear red ribbons as a sign of solidarity with people living with HIV. A public service announcement featuring Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag will be screened at selected tournament matches, THINK WISE messages will feature on the boundary boards and information about the campaign and HIV prevention will feature in match programmes.

During the tournament, players from England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies will undertake specific AIDS awareness-raising activities with people living with HIV and young people.

Through interactions with the cricket players, the 60 children also had the chance to learn about HIV-related issues. 5 June, 2013 in London, England. Credit: ICC/Getty Images

West Indies urge children to THINK WISE

On the eve of the 2013 Champions Trophy opening, West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo and team-mates Darren Sammy and Jason Holder held a special coaching clinic at the Oval in London as part of the THINK WISE partnership activities. The trio attended the clinic alongside fielding coach Andre Coley and took part in a session delivered by UK NGO Cricket Without Boundaries.

Through interactions with the cricket players and coach, 60 children from three London schools had the chance to learn cricketing skills, while also understanding the background of THINK WISE and learning about HIV-related issues.

“It’s very important to get kids aware of HIV at an early age, just like sport, the earlier you get involved in something the quicker you learn about it. It’s good that THINK WISE is taking the initiative to educate children about HIV and I really enjoyed the experience,” said Dwayne Bravo

Jason Holder who is at his first senior ICC men’s tournament, added: “I think that THINK WISE is a very good imitative and it’s great that these three organisations, the ICC, UNAIDS and UNICEF, have come together for this tournament. Hopefully the partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength for years to come.”

The ICC Champions Trophy, featuring Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies, will be played over 18 days from 6 -23 June.

Children with disabilities are too often denied access to health and education and this has a detrimental effect on society as a whole. Credit: UNICEF/Marco Dormino

The marginalization of children with disabilities in critical areas like health and education not only has damaging consequences for the young people themselves but also the wider  community, according to a landmark UNICEF report released today on 30 May.  

The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities contends that children with disabilities are the least likely to receive health care or go to school. They are also more likely to face exploitation and neglect. This is because, the report suggests, children with disabilities are too often reduced to that disability and not seen as valuable individuals who should be given the same opportunities to flourish as everyone else. 

"When you see the disability before the child, it is not only wrong for the child, but it deprives society of all that child has to offer," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “Their loss is society's loss; their gain is society's gain.”

HIV provides a salient example of how young people with physical, sensory, intellectual or psychosocial disabilities can be marginalized, overlooked and excluded from programmes. The report argues that, if the burden of the virus is increased in any one group this has negative implications for society as a whole, not least in terms of slowed development and increased expenditure.

Children with disabilities are often considered to be sexually inactive and thus not in need of HIV prevention services. Many receive no information about puberty and how their bodies change and develop. There may also be issues with a greater inability to set sexual contact boundaries for others.  

In addition, a significant percentage of people with disabilities of all ages experience sexual assault or abuse during their lifetimes, especially women and girls and those in specialized institutions, schools and hospitals. Their vulnerability to HIV in these circumstances is therefore substantially increased.

HIV treatment, testing and counselling services can be physically difficult to access for those with disabilities or may not provide information in user-friendly formats such as Braille. Health care professionals are rarely trained to deal with such children and adolescents and may even demonstrate stigmatizing attitudes.

The State of the World’s Children sets out a number of recommendations to try to ensure that children with disabilities are included across a broad range of social, economic and cultural spheres so that they are involved in overall development.   

One major recommendation involves filling the considerable information gap relating to children with disabilities. Few countries know how many such citizens there are, what disabilities they have and what level of service provision they need, making it very difficult for those needs to be met.

The report also highlights the need to remove barriers to inclusion so that environments like schools, health facilities and public transport encourage the participation of children with disabilities alongside their peers, free from discrimination. Families can also be supported to meet the higher costs of living and lost income-earning opportunities often associated with caring for affected children. It is also held to be important to ensure that children and adolescents are involved in the design and implementation of programmes and services so that they can play a role as active agents of change.

Finally, the report calls on countries to ratify and implement international commitments such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Around two thirds of them have ratified the former but for many implementation remains slow.

Ahead of the High-Level Dialogue on Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, held in Gaborone Botswana from 5-6 March 2013, four heads of United Nations agencies met with the President of Botswana, Ian Khama to discuss the meeting’s implications to global health.

President Khama said that his country strongly believed in investing in health and other social sectors as a way forward to economic and social development. The President stressed that despite competing priorities, governments should place human resources at the top of their national development agenda. Without a healthy population, all other priorities become void, he added.

In attendance the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan, UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, UNFPA Executive Director, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin and UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé.

According to the 2012 UNAIDS Global Report, service coverage in Botswana to prevent new HIV infections among children reached 94% in 2011. Furthermore, by the end of 2011, more than 175 000 people were receiving antiretroviral treatment compared to 57% in 2004—more than 95% of people eligible.

Later in the day, they met with the Vice President of Botswana, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minister of Health, Rev. Dr John Seakgosing and Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Ontefetse Matambo.