During the 71st World Health Assembly, UNAIDS will be organizing and participating in a number of important events as part of UNAIDS’ continued efforts to strengthen partnerships and advocate for a Fast-Track response to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Below are some of the events that UNAIDS will be engaging in.

Wednesday, 23 May

Event              West and central Africa ministerial meeting on addressing the negative impact of user fees on access to AIDS services, increasing inequities and affecting the right to health  

Date                23 May 2018, 13:00–14:00

Where             TBC

Overview        User charges at health facilities impede access to HIV and health services, particularly maternal care and HIV testing and treatment—increasing morbidity and mortality and impoverishing entire households. Vulnerable groups are the most affected and the detrimental effect of user fees is not only slowing progress towards the Fast-Track Targets but more importantly increasing inequities and affecting the right to health. Leadership to mobilize partners and change policies is central to defining the next steps towards identifying country-tailored solutions to move away from user fees.

Speakers       

Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

WHO representative

With contributions from the Health Ministers of Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria

Hosts              UNAIDS, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, WHO

Focal points   Victor Bampoe | bampoev@unaids.org / Iris Semini | seminii@unaids.org

Thursday, 24 May

Event              Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ministerial meeting

Date                24 May 2018, 8:00–9:30

Where             UNAIDS, Kofi A. Annan Conference Room

Overview        ECOWAS health ministers will come together to strengthen their common understanding of addressing the health needs of the ECOWAS region. Topics under discussion will include: innovative strategies for reducing maternal and child mortality; development of quality standards and charter marks for centres of excellence; medicines and vaccines—regional production and quality; improving the prevention and control of noncommunicable and communicable diseases; and health information.

Host                West African Health Organization

Focal points   Sylvie Daouda | daoudas@unaids.org / Joy Backory | backoryj@unaids.org

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 towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.