On 14 August, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé presented awards to the CEOs of six of China’s largest companies in recognition of their contributions to China’s AIDS response. Mr Sidibé was meeting with some of China’s leading CEOs at the Beijing secretariat of the China Red Ribbon Foundation, located within the headquarters of China’s Hanergy Holdings Group, to highlight the leadership and contribution of the private sector in China’s national and global HIV response.

Speaking at the event, Mr Sidibé praised the growing commitment of Chinese business leaders, particularly in the area of HIV. The private sector is playing an increasingly important role in China’s efforts to expand HIV prevention, treatment and care services and address discrimination. Much of this work is channelled through the China Red Ribbon Foundation, founded in 2005 by 20 of China’s leading private sector firms.

Huang Mengfu, Honorary Chair of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce thanked Mr Sidibé for his remarks and said that, “For the last 30 years, China has led on economic growth. In the coming years, China’s private sector will help China to lead on social responsibility, global health, and human development.”

Several Chinese CEOs reflected on their positive experiences in supporting the prevention and control of HIV in China and expressed their support for the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Mr Sidibé also stressed the huge potential for China’s growing private sector to help bring an end to the AIDS epidemic globally. Particularly in Africa, where many Chinese companies now have extensive operations, Chinese businesses are in a unique position to encourage breakthrough progress in the HIV response and throughout the health sector. Reiterating UNAIDS’ commitment to working closely with private business, Mr Sidibé emphasized that a successful response to HIV requires strong and meaningful participation from all sectors of society.

Quotes

At a recent meeting in Botswana, a high-level group of education and sexual reproductive health experts from Eastern and Southern Africa highlighted the need for good quality, gender-sensitive sexuality education that prepares adolescents for puberty and relationships and prevents unintended pregnancy and HIV. They also stressed that countries need to provide improved access to youth-friendly health services, which includes contraception, confidential HIV and STI testing, HIV prevention, treatment and care, as well as safe pregnancy and delivery and safe options in the case of unintended pregnancy. Child-marriage and gender-based violence were singled out as current impediments for adolescents and young people realising their right to education and health.

The participants also called on the region’s health and education ministers to sign a new commitment to work closely together to improve access to high quality sexuality education and health services. This commitment, due to be signed in December 2013 ahead of the International Conference on AIDS in Africa, will demand that countries look at young people’s needs with more openness, and be willing to re-examine social norms about young people’s sexuality.

The meeting, held in Gabarone, Botswana from 30-31 July, was the first face-to-face meeting of this high-level group, chaired by Professor Sheila Tlou, regional directors of UNAIDS and a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Health of Botswana. The First Lady of Tanzania, Mama Selma Kikwete, opened the meeting.

Quotes

The Municipality of Salvador in the State of Bahia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in which both organizations agreed to work jointly to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize the worlds of sport and culture to promote UNAIDS Protect the Goal campaign.

The main objective of the MoU is to establish a technical development cooperation framework in support of UNAIDS vision of “Getting to Zero” in the State of Bahia and carry out advocacy activities in support of UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” campaign, a brand new initiative that highlights the power of protection and fosters HIV prevention and treatment particularly among young people in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2 300 young people are infected with HIV each day. Many young people living with HIV, who are eligible for treatment lack access or do not know their HIV status. In Latin America, the situation among youth is of particular concern given that less than 30 per cent of those aged 15-24 years correctly identify how to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, and condom use in this age group remains low, while only 30 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 report using condoms during last sexual activity.

In Brazil, HIV and AIDS estimates for 2011 were as follows: New infections (all ages): 18,000 [11,000 - 26,000]; Number of people living with HIV: 490,000 [430,000 - 570,000]; Percentage of people living with HIV (aged 15 - 24); Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate: 0.30% [0.30% - 0.40%]; Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV: 470,000 [410,000 - 550,000]; Women aged 15 and up living with HIV: 200,000 [170,000 - 230,000]; Deaths due to AIDS: 15,000 [12,000 - 20,000]; and Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17: 78,000 [48,000 - 110,000].

Quotes

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.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to combine efforts to promote UNAIDS' Protect the Goal campaign and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly among the youth. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the special session of South America's soccer governing body in the presence of CONMEBOL President Eugenio Figueredo and Dr Djibril Diallo, on behalf of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

The main objectives of the MoU are to carry out joint advocacy and communication activities in competitions organized by CONMEBOL —one of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) six continental confederations— in support of the "Protect the Goal" campaign, a brand new initiative within the framework of UNAIDS' sport for global advocacy that was launched at the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2300 young people are infected with HIV each day.

Quotes

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, has appointed the First Lady of Mozambique as a Patron of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.

A long-standing champion of the response to HIV, Maria Dia Luz Guebuza has advocated for zero new HIV infections among children for a number of years. In 2012, at the 32nd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) she was instrumental in convening a powerful meeting of First Ladies. During the meeting the 15 First Ladies developed the ‘Maputo Declaration on the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV’ which Dr Guebuza presented to heads of State who officially adopted the declaration at the Summit.

As a Patron of the Global Plan, Dr Guebuza will highlight the need to expand both HIV prevention and treatment services to women and children not only in Mozambique but across the region, which has been most affected by the AIDS epidemic.

The Global Plan is focusing particular efforts on these 22 countries to achieve two main targets for 2015: a 90% reduction in the number of children newly infected with HIV and a 50% reduction in the number of AIDS-related maternal deaths.

Mozambique is one of the Global Plan’s 22 priority countries and according to the latest progress report Mozambique has made major strides in providing HIV prevention and treatment services for women and children. The number of women receiving antiretroviral therapy to prevent transmission to their children increased from just 38% in 2009 to 86% in 2012 (under 2010 guidelines). Subsequently the number of new infections among children fell in the same time period from 26 000 to 14 000.

The Global Plan towards elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive is an initiative which was launched in 2011 by UNAIDS and the United States Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS.

Quotes

The 2013 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup soccer tournament is promoting the HIV prevention campaign “Protect the Goal” of UNAIDS. On 28 July during the final game of the tournament in Chicago, IL, USA the captains of the national football teams from the United States and Panama pledged to raise awareness of HIV in the football community.

The “Protect the Goal” banner was displayed prominently on the pitch prior to the game, in front of about 58 000 fans. Damarcus Beasley, the captain of the U.S. team and Roman Torres, the captain of the Panamanian team, read a statement calling on players, football fans and young people to support the campaign.

CONCACAF has also promoted the “Protect the Goal” campaign during games taking place earlier this month in Los Angeles, CA, Harrison, NJ and Portland, OR.  In April 2013, UNAIDS and CONCACAF signed an agreement in which both organizations agreed to team up to raise awareness about HIV, particularly among the youth.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2300 young people are infected with HIV each day.

Quotes

(From left to right) UN Messenger of Peace Charlize Theron, South African President Jacob Zuma, and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. Credit: UNAIDS

The challenges facing young people in South Africa were the focus of a dynamic meeting between South African President Jacob Zuma, UN Messenger of Peace Charlize Theron and the Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé. Prominent issues in the discussions included the vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV in South Africa, the need for Africa to become more self-sufficient in producing antiretroviral medicines  and the remarkable progress South Africa has made in responding to HIV recent years. 

President Zuma said, “We came from a difficult time. We had all the plans but the manner in which we interfaced with the world was very difficult. I want to thanks UNAIDS, specifically Michel Sidibe, who has been a pillar of strength in supporting our country on HIV. During this very short time we have changed the life expectancy of our people due to his support and guidance."

The importance of reaching young people with HIV services was also stressed together with the need to integrate health care into education and youth programmes. The example of South Africa’s Integrated School Health Programme, which aims to reach school children with primary health care services and life orientation skills, was highlighted as a positive way forward in improving the health of young South Africans.

“It’s time to end AIDS,” said Mr Sidibé. “It’s time for zero preventable deaths due to AIDS, zero tolerance for violence and new infections among young women.”

A recent study revealed that young women between the ages of 15 and 24 are three times more likely to become infected with HIV than young men in the same age group. HIV prevalence is also much higher among women (23%) in South Africa than in men (13%).

Ms Theron spoke passionately about some of the issues facing young people in South Africa that she has seen and heard through the work of her non-profit organization the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.

“I can promise that we will continue to support you to keep yourselves and your peers safe from HIV,” said Ms Theron.

Ms Theron and Mr Sidibé also met with Friends for Life, a non-profit organization located in Alexandra township in Johannesburg. Friends for Life is a community-based HIV prevention, care and support organization which works closely with young people.

“The visit was such a great opportunity for us to share our ideas and concerns as young people,” said Thulani Tshefuta, a representative of the South African National AIDS Council’s youth sector. “We hope that through speaking about the situation of youth in South Africa and continuing to serve as advocates, we see a change in our communities and in the lives of young people living with HIV.”

Kazan, Russian Federation was the host of the 27th Summer Universiade — World University Games. The event attracted 11 000 young athletes from more than 160 nations competing in 27 sports from artistic gymnastics to wrestling.

With this backdrop an HIV prevention project called Games for Health. Games for Life was launched. Around the world about 2300 people aged 15-24 become infected with HIV every day and many of the young people living with HIV are unaware of their HIV status. In the region where the Games took place (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) the number of people living with HIV has almost tripled since 2000.

As part of the launch of Games for Health. Games for Life,  35 000 HIV prevention hand-outs were distributed to participants and volunteers. And some 8000 volunteers participated in information sessions about HIV where they discussed issues such reducing stigma and discrimination and promoting the rights of people living with HIV.

The results of this HIV prevention initiative were presented to the next Universiade organizing committee and will be shared with the organizers of major upcoming sporting events including the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Quotes

The particular impact that HIV has on women and girls was discussed during a panel discussion organised in conjunction with the 55th Session of Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Broad ranging discussion took place during the event on how gender inequality, poverty, harmful cultural practices, and unequal power relations exacerbates their vulnerability to HIV infection.

Also underscored was the important, if not central, role of human rights and creating an enabling environment for women and girls. Participants agreed that countries must do more to ensure women and girls have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and HIV services.

The keynote speech was given by Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, UNAIDS who said the Committee could help to ensure that governments make HIV services available and accessible to all women and girls including sex workers, women who inject drugs and transwomen. Looking to the post-2015 agenda, she stressed the importance of leveraging synergies across movements to advance sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The panellists agreed that all barriers hampering women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services must be removed, and they called on State Parties to CEDAW to make the necessary investments to facilitate access to SRH services. They also encouraged State Parties to enhance their reporting on human rights issues as it relates to women and HIV and to better use CEDAW to advance the rights of women and women living with HIV in particular.

Quotes