Cricketing stars from the South Africa team, including JP Duminy (third from right), join ‘Think Wise’ campaign volunteers at an a HIV-awareness raising event in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Credit: UNICEF Sri Lanka

World cricket players have united in a call to young fans to ‘get the facts’ about HIV prevention and to help eliminate AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The call is part of a United Nations and International Cricket Council (ICC) HIV awareness-raising campaign taking place alongside the ICC World Twenty20 (WT20) tournament in Sri Lanka, which runs until 7 October.

Rallying support for the campaign known as ‘Think Wise’—an initiative of the ICC, UNAIDS and UNICEF— players from the South African Cricket team interacted with young people living with and affected by HIV in Colombo on 26 September.

“It is very important to create awareness on HIV—not only for our generation but also for the generation to come,” said South African player JP Duminy. “HIV is an issue for South Africa and the whole world and sport is one of the things that can bring nations together on important issues,” he added.

JP Duminy and his team-mates gave the youth attending the event tips on how to improve their batting, bowling and fielding skills during a specialized coaching session. At the same time, they spoke openly about HIV with the youth participants, stressing the importance of young people being informed, staying protected and eliminating harmful stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV.

A similar interaction session was held earlier in the WT20 tournament between players of the West Indies cricket team and children living with HIV. “This is definitely a great initiative and it’s important that young people are educated on the methods of protecting themselves from HIV,” said Trinidadian leg spin bowler Samuel Badree.

Commending the players’ commitment to raising awareness on HIV, Steven Kraus, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific said: “We are all striving for the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Cricket and cricketing stars have the power to unite and reach beyond national boundaries, driving efforts towards ‘getting to zero’ and ending AIDS.”

Outrunning AIDS: towards an AIDS-free generation

Young people taking part in the ‘Think Wise’ activities emphasized the benefit of such events. “It was great to have the opportunity to play cricket with the teams and it was very important because of the reach that the campaign is having with the public—great opportunities for many important conversations,” a young participant said.

Players from the West Indies Cricket Team interacting with ‘Think Wise’ volunteers, children living with HIV and their families as part of the ‘Think Wise’ campaign.
Credit: UNICEF Sri Lanka

More than 40% of the new HIV infections globally are being reported among 15-24 year olds, which means that 3000 young people are being newly infected with the virus every day. Stigma against people living with HIV and people from communities at higher risk is still widespread across many cricket playing countries.

“Stigma and discrimination undermine our vision of an AIDS-free generation. This can be realized only if we all respect the rights of those living with or affected by HIV," said Rachel Odede, HIV Advisor in the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, underlining the importance of this Think Wise theme.

For almost a decade, and with the help of ‘Think Wise’ Champions including Virender Sehwag (India), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies) among others, the ICC/UNAIDS/UNICEF ‘Think Wise’ campaign has used the power of cricket to help address key issues around AIDS, particularly for young people across the major cricket-playing countries.

“Through cricket we can reach millions of people and the message is clear: Let’s talk more about HIV, let’s get informed. We know that stigma kills. Let’s ‘Think Wise’, don’t stigmatize,” said Indian batsman and ‘Think Wise’ Champion Virender Sehwag during the WT20 tournament.

ICC CEO David Richardson added: “The profile and reach of the ICC World T20 gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and reduce stigma about HIV and, along with the players, we are delighted to help this cause.”

For the duration of the WT20, a public service announcement featuring Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag will be screened at all tournament matches. Players from the teams taking part in the men’s and women’s semi-finals will wear red ribbons as a sign of solidarity for people living with HIV and umpires and referees will also sport the ‘Think Wise’ logo on their shirt sleeves.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon launching the new initiative “Education First” with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa (left) and the Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt (right). 26 September 2012. UN Headquarters, New York. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon launched a new initiative “Education First” to ensure that every child goes to school, receives quality education and imbibes values of global citizenship.

“Our shared goals are simple. We want children to attend primary school and to progress toward higher education that will help them to succeed in life,” said Mr Ban. “We cannot stop until every child goes to school. This is our task, this is our homework.”

Speaking on behalf of all children and young people, Chenor Bah from Sierra Leone presented a petition demanding their right for education. “Send us all to school; prepare us for the 21st century jobs, [prepare us] to be global citizens to promote tolerance and peace, comprehensive reproductive health education, and to be informed by science,” said Mr Bah. “You are tallest when you kneel to help a child,” he added.

“Education First” seeks to mobilize all partners, traditional and new, to achieve the enrolment of all children in primary education ahead of the 2015 target date for the Millennium Development Goals. The new initiative establishes that, an additional US$ 24 billion is needed annually to cover the shortfall for children out of primary and lower secondary school. “Education remains the most important investment that any state—especially in Africa and the developing world can make,” said President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

Moderating the session, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown called on the global community to invest fully in education. “We have to give voice and opportunity to young people,” he said.

More than US$ 1.5 billion was pledged during the event by private sector partners including US$ 1 billion by Western Union Foundation and US$ 500 million by MasterCard foundation.

“When you run a country you worry about a lot of statistics—inflation, unemployment, gross product etc.—but the one statistic that I worry most about is how our schooling fares compared to other countries,” said Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia. “The success of our 15 year old children in education determines how far our economy will go and how fair as a nation we will be,” she added while supporting the initiative.

Moderating the session, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown called on the global community to invest fully in education. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

Highlighting the key role that teachers play in the children’s education, Irina Bokova Director-General of UNESCO noted that, “We need a new deal for teachers. We are short of 1.7 billion teachers,” she said. “We must put teachers first—they are the backbone of our society,” added Ms Bokova.

“We need to look beyond inputs and invest in school system to achieve better learning outcomes,” said Dr Jim Kim, President of World Bank. “Countries must invest in health and facilitate the access to school to make education work.”

In an op-ed written for the Huffington Post in support of the initiative, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé wrote, “Education First is the blueprint for a brighter future, but it won’t succeed without steadfast commitment from all sectors of society, including governments and funders, as well as students and families. And success will require resources as well as good will. We now have an historical opportunity to end one of the greatest threats to humanity of our lifetime. Ending AIDS is possible—and education is the key to success.”

UNAIDS helped produce the “Education First” strategy document. The illustrations in the strategy were developed by Sujean Rim, the UNAIDS artist-in-residence. “Education is the best gift I have received and I am happy to be able to support this initiative,” Ms Rim said. “Children everywhere need the opportunity and the skills to express themselves through art, science and sport.”

Today, nearly 61 million children do not have access to primary education, 52% of them are girls. An additional 71 million children eligible for lower secondary education are not receiving post-primary education. Children in conflict-affected countries account for 42% of children out-of-school. Other barriers to school enrolment and completion include unaffordable costs, gender discrimination, child labour and lack of infrastructures. The new strategy also highlights that children orphaned by AIDS and other causes need focused care and protection, as do those subjected to child labour and exploitation.

African leaders gather to review progress made in the implementation of the 2001 Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases and call for sustainable strategies to advance health towards 2015 and beyond.

L to R: President of Benin, Yayi Boni, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé
Credit: UNAIDS/B.Hamilton

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 26 September 2012— African leaders gathered in New York on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the African Union (AU) Roadmap. This initiative outlines long-term sustainable strategies to finance and provide access to HIV treatment and prevention services and other health services in Africa as called for in the Millennium Development Goals.

“Ten years after Abuja, millions of lives have been saved and Africa has prospered,” said President of Benin Boni YAYI, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union. “These foundations have to be made permanent for this generation and for all our future generations.” President Boni YAYI presented the African Union’s Roadmap for Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Shared responsibility and global solidarity

President Joyce Banda of Malawi embraced the concept of shared responsibility. “I am fully committed to mobilizing additional domestic resources while ensuring efficient use of external funds,” she said in a statement of support to meeting. President Banda also highlighted her country’s pioneering work to “ensure all HIV positive pregnant women, irrespective of their CD4 count, commence antiretroviral therapy and take HIV treatment for the rest of their lives.”

The transformation of access to health in Africa has come from inspired African leadership coupled with strong international support. Health investments, from funders and domestic resources have expanded manifold in Africa. Weak health systems have been replaced with a greater focus on human resources and ingenuity to provide health care in remote areas.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the gathering and recognized the renewed commitment by the African Union to the AIDS response. “If every nation devastated by HIV follows the example of many of the leaders in this room and steps up to shared responsibility, we won’t just keep up our momentum—we will accelerate our progress and move even faster toward the day when we can announce the birth of an AIDS- free generation,” she said.

Towards the 2015 goals and the post 2015 agenda

With three years to go to meet the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the global AIDS targets agreed to in the 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on AIDS, participants echoed the need for strong political leadership and enhanced country ownership.

As a first step, African leaders agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria adopted by the African Union in July 2012.

“Africa has not only shown that it cares but that it has increased its capacity to provide health care for its people. Millions of lives have been saved as investments into healthcare have increased—both domestic and international,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) who moderated the high-panel debate. “For every African to realize their right to health, a new paradigm of sustainable health services has to be put in place. For this we must secure the investments needed, secure good laws, secure the science, secure shared responsibility and global solidarity as well as secure access to lifesaving health services.”

United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown speaking at the event.

A key to this agreement is advancing a new model of mutual accountability that can help unite African governments and their development partners in a series of practical actions and which will bring Africa closer to ending the AIDS epidemic. Data released this year by UNAIDS shows that scientific advances and improved programme practices have helped to reduce the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. Life-saving HIV treatment is now reaching more than 8 million people around the world—more than 6 million of which are in Africa, the region most affected by the epidemic.

“This is the time for Africa to intensify its efforts and create a new international compact against AIDS,” said President Macky Sall of Senegal.

During the dialogue it was agreed that the capacity of AIDS Watch Africa be strengthened. It was also suggested that AIDS Watch Africa, the African body mandated to ensure accountability for action, create a new model of accountability in consultation with Africa’s development partners.

Sustainable and innovative health financing

The leaders, which also included the Presidents of Comoros, Equatorial Guinea and Namibia, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kenya and development partners including France, Sweden, Brazil, the African Union Commission, European Commission and World Bank, also discussed ways to ensure that health financing is adequate and sustained. In recent years many countries in Africa have adopted innovative ways of generating resources for health, beyond traditional means. For example, Rwanda and Uganda now place levies on mobile phone usage with proceeds supporting HIV programmes. Zimbabwe’s AIDS levy now provides about US$ 30 million as the country’s economy expands. Social health insurance is also being explored by many countries.

At the same time domestic investments for health have increased, but the majority of countries have not yet met the Abuja target of allocating 15% of government budget to health. Leaders at the meeting agreed that this goal should be maintained and all efforts be taken to achieve this target. However they also agreed that international investments, which have remained stable in recent years, must be sustained and increased. They also called for new and diversified sources of international investments—especially from countries with emerging economies.

Sustainable access to medicines

A majority of the pharmaceutical needs of Africa are met through imports. The need to boost local capacity to manufacture essential quality-assured medicines as well as developing regional markets for them, including through common regulatory frameworks was highlighted at the event.

“Africa must be a source of knowledge and science, not just needs and wants,” said President Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia. “We will make all efforts to ensure that Africa meets more of its pharmaceutical needs through increased local production.”

Getting to zero

“If every girl and every boy goes to school and is taught about HIV prevention we can reach the global goal of Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education. “To the UNAIDS vision of Zero if we add zero illiteracy, we can end AIDS faster.”

There are nearly 23.5 million people living with HIV in Africa. New HIV infections in the region have declined by 22% since 2001. By the end of 2011, an estimated 56% of people eligible for HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa were accessing it—with treatment coverage increasing by 22% across the region between 2010 and 2011.

L to R: Head of the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations Hervé Ladsous, President of Gabon H.E. Ali Bongo and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. 25 September 2012.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

The President of Gabon H.E. Ali Bongo held a discussion with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Head of the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations Hervé Ladsous on AIDS and security during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

During the discussion the leaders warned of how societal instability can provide a fertile ground for HIV risk and transmission. Reduced accountability, shifting power balances and vulnerabilities become rife, leading to all sorts of abuses, including sexual and gender based violence.

Mr Sidibé thanked President Bongo for his leadership and continued commitment to the issue. "The relationship between HIV and security is crystal clear: Conflicts and post-conflict conditions can exacerbate the spread of HIV and, if left unchecked, threaten international peace and security," he said.

In many settings, widespread sexual violence has been used as a tool of warfare, increasing gender inequalities and contributing to the spread of HIV. In conflict and post-conflict settings, women (including many with children) often confront the choice between starving in devastated local communities or entering refugee camps where rape and sexual violence may be endemic.

The leaders agreed that the UN Security Council has played a leading role in raising awareness of the links between AIDS and security. In 2011, a landmark Security Council Resolution 1983 called for increased efforts by UN Member States to address HIV in peacekeeping missions. It also called for HIV prevention efforts among uniformed services to be aligned with efforts to end sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict settings.

“Before we report back to the UN Security Council in 2013, I will invite leaders and partners to Libreville to review global progress,” said President Bongo.

Today, HIV is being comprehensively integrated in all United Nations peacekeeping operations. Reaching the nearly 120,000 personnel who currently serve in UN peacekeeping missions not only helps protect their health and well-being, but the peacekeepers also serve as agents of change in surrounding communities and eventually in their home countries.

“We can mitigate the impact of HIV among uniformed services and civilian populations affected by conflict,” said Mr Ladsous. “This is a priority for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations,” he added.

UNAIDS and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) have been working together for over a decade accumulating considerable knowledge on AIDS and security, identifying best practices as well as documenting both successes and challenges. The collaboration has also leveraged the strengths and expertise of other UN partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), besides member states, other international organisations and funding entities.

All these collaborative efforts are starting to yield results. Six case studies undertaken in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timor Leste, Lebanon, Haiti, Republic of South Sudan and Republic of North Sudan indicate concrete progress in addressing HIV and gender-based violence. AIDS programmes are helping address sexual and gender-based violence, increase awareness of the harmful effects of stigma and discrimination, sensitise perpetrators and help convert them into agents of change, and promote integration of human rights protections in national legal and policy frameworks. A joint publication “Securing an AIDS free future: practical lessons about Security and AIDS in conflict and post-conflict settings” produced by UNAIDS and DPKO documenting these efforts was presented to President Bongo during the meeting.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon speaking at a reception to draw attention to the progress made on the Every Woman Every Child initiative. 25 September 2012.
Credit: UN Foundation

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon brought together on 25 September in New York, leaders from government, civil society, the private sector and international organizations during a reception to draw attention to the progress made on the Every Woman Every Child initiative.

“If we take the human right to health seriously, we have to ensure that all people get basic services,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “If we ensure universal health coverage, we can stop many more preventable deaths. We can prevent illness and malnutrition. We can ensure that girls and women of all ages can choose if and when to have a baby. And that will protect people from falling deeper into poverty.”

Every Woman Every Child is an unprecedented global movement, spearheaded by Mr Ban, to mobilize and intensify global action to improve the health of women and children around the world. Working with a wide range of partners, the initiative aims to save the lives of 16 million women and children and improve the lives of millions more.

The effort puts into action the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, which presents a roadmap on how to enhance financing, strengthen policy and improve service on the ground for the most vulnerable women and children.

More than $40 billion was pledged at the launch of the initiative in 2010, and numerous partners have made additional financial, policy and service delivery commitments. However, the Secretary-General stressed during the reception the need for the international community to continue providing support and renewing their commitments to take Every Woman Every Child past the tipping point. Fulfilling the commitments made would mean saving the lives of 16 million women and children, preventing 33 million unwanted pregnancies, ending stunting in 88 million children, and protecting 120 million children from pneumonia by 2015.

“No child should be born with HIV and all mothers living with HIV should have access to HIV treatment for their own health,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “Every woman and every child must have full access to health. We owe this to our future generations.”

The event was held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and was organized by the MDG Health Alliance, the United Nations Foundation, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

L to R: UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Naomi Watts; UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan; UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé; Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals to the United Nations Secretary-General, Professor Jeffrey Sachs; and Founder and President of the Advanced Development for Africa (ADA) Foundation and conference Chairperson Ms. Coumba D. Touré at the Yale Club, NYC. September 24, 2012.

First Ladies of several African countries, government officials and representatives from international and civil society organizations working on development and women’s issues gathered in New York on the side-lines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting to discuss ways to empower women and youth especially through digital technologies.

Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé participated in the session entitled Partnership in action: Ensuring children everywhere are born HIV-free. Calling on women to lead the way for social justice, Mr Sidibé introduced two UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Naomi Watts and Aishwarya Rai Bachan. “These two women have the power to change the world—nothing could be nobler than a generation free from HIV,” he said.

Speaking about her experiences in the field Ms Watts focused on the importance of partnerships in the incredible progress made in getting to zero new HIV infections among children. “But we are not there yet. One baby is born with HIV almost every minute and currently only one of every four children in need of treatment is actually receiving it. To me, these are not facts and figures but faces with families,” she said. “Surely we can keep moving until we get to zero.”

Mrs Rai Bachchan, who was appointed a new Goodwill Ambassador earlier in the day, shared her passion to learn and to make a real difference in the lives of women and families. She also called on the media to do its part. “We need to draw attention to something that needs attention,” she said. “Women need to find their voice, anywhere a baby is born we need to work there.”

The event also focused on the advances in technology and health. The provision of health services and information via mobile technologies such as mobile phones, also known as mobile health or mHealth, has been proven effective in providing greater access to healthcare to populations in low income countries. Using such technology has also shown cost efficiencies and an improvement in the capacity of health systems to provide quality healthcare.

Recent evidence from randomized scientific trials and studies has demonstrated that SMS messaging in particular can positively impact treatment outcomes. For example, results from a study conducted in Kenya on November 2010, showed that patients who received SMS support had significantly higher adherence to antiretroviral treatment.

With 5.3 billion mobile subscribers across the globe and almost 90% of the world’s population covered by a wireless signal, the mobile phone has become the most widely spread communica­tions technology platform. Participants at the meeting brought ideas on how mobile technologies could help scale up access to health for women and youth in low and middle-income countries.

A multitude of mHealth solutions have emerged over the years in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, according to the Global Observatory for eHealth at the World Health Organization. However, a recent report commissioned by the Advance Development for Africa Foundation, highlights that despite the strong promise demonstrated by mHealth tools and applications, the current land­scape is characterized by a proliferation of unsustainable pilot projects that often expire once initial funding is exhausted.

The event was co-hosted by Advance Development for Africa Foundation, Digital He@lth Initiative and the Global Partnerships Forum in cooperation with UNAIDS, UNDP, UN Office for Partnerships, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, and UN Habitat.

UNAIDS Executive Director rings the New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in support of Education.

Joining the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown  and school students from New York, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited the New York Stock Exchange to ring the Opening Bell to highlight the need for access to education.

The event helped bring attention to the upcoming launch of Education First, a new initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations General Assembly this week. The effort will expand and improve schooling around the world and keep education as a top development priority.

Emphasizing the role the business community will play, Mr Sidibé said that the investment private sector makes will return an investment in a more informed and qualified workforce that contributes to economic growth.

Education First will be launched 26 September 2012.

The “Let’s Talk” Think Wise roadshow, supported by UNAIDS, ready to leave Colombo with its youth volunteers.
Credit: P. Deshapriya

A bus embossed with HIV messages, red ribbons and the faces of world cricketing stars is making a whistle stop tour through more than a hundred sites in Sri Lanka. Carrying young volunteers, the bus is part of the HIV awareness-raising campaign “Let’s talk” taking place around the world Twenty20 cricket tournament that runs from 18 September to 7 October in Sri Lanka.

An integral part of the joint UNAIDS, UNICEF and the International Cricket Council (ICC) partnership known as ‘Think Wise’, the bus has been on the road since late August. Using the power of cricket it aims to reach out to thousands of young people in Sri Lanka providing them with HIV information as well as inviting them to talk about AIDS.

Serving as the face of the roadshow, Sri Lankan cricketing hero and ‘Think Wise’ Champion Kumar Sangakkara’s message is featured on the side of the bus: “When you know the facts, you know what to do. Get the facts. Protect yourself against HIV”.

As the bus pulls up at one of the designated stops, the vibrant young volunteers greet locals with music, dance and organize activities including street cricket and an HIV quiz. With tickets to the Twenty20 final as the prize, the quiz along with the other activities is intended to help promote key HIV prevention and anti-discrimination messages.

“Education programmes through entertainment are really needed as they reach out to young people, especially those most at risk,” says ‘Think Wise’ roadshow volunteer Paba Deshapriya as she invites young people attending to sign on a giant wicket in support for the Sri Lankan team at the Twenty20 tournament. At the same time, she presents them with red ribbons and information about HIV services they can access in their area.

“The roadshow interactions are clearly showing that public knowledge of HIV is still extremely low—which means the bus and the AIDS response in Sri Lanka still have a long journey,” said roadshow team leader Mr Hans Billimoria.

Under the broader umbrella of the ‘Think Wise’ campaign, the bus roadshow is the result of a diverse national partnership in Sri Lanka that includes UNAIDS, UNICEF, Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, the National STI/AIDS Control Programme, the National Youth Council, the community organization Grassrooted and local youth organizations. The initiative aims to not only give clear and up to date information on HIV, dispel AIDS-related myths and challenge social stigma against people living with HIV but also to link people with local HIV services including HIV testing and counseling, treatment and support.

Despite a relatively low HIV prevalence in the country (less than 0.1%), stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and key affected communities is high and presents a major barrier to the HIV response. National surveys suggest that many people at higher risk of infection delay testing themselves for HIV and coming forward for treatment because they are concerned by the implications of testing HIV-positive and the confidentiality of their HIV status.

At the Think Wise roadshow, participants ‘sign the wickets’ in support of the Sri Lankan cricketing team’s performance in the World Twenty20 tournament and to show their solidarity for people living with HIV.
Credit: P. Deshapriya

Dr Nimal Edirisinghe Director of the Sri Lankan national STI and AIDS Control Programme said, “This is an ideal opportunity as the campaign actively links young people to HIV prevention and treatment services.”

According to the UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Sri Lanka Mr David Bridger an AIDS-free generation is within our reach. “That’s why through the ‘Think Wise’ campaign we say: ‘Let’s talk – Get the Facts – Protect yourself’ encouraging open dialogue on sex, sexual diversity, risks and HIV prevention methods,” he said.

As the bus continues its journey through Sri Lanka, additional HIV activities related to the ‘Think Wise’ campaign will take place during the Twenty20 tournament. These include screenings of a public service announcement at every match, the wearing of red ribbons by players in the semifinals and interaction events between cricket players from the West Indies and South Africa teams and young people.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, Jan Beagle and the Honourable Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia

In a meeting on 20 September with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Honorable Nahas Angula, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle commended the Namibian government for its leadership in the HIV response and for excellent progress in responding to the national epidemic.

“Namibia has made great strides in its AIDS response. While challenges remain, it is an example for other countries in the region,” said Ms Beagle.

Gains in the national HIV response

According to government estimates, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people accessing HIV treatment in Namibia—from less than 10 000 in 2004-05 to more than 100 000 in 2011-12. Over the past decade, the number of new HIV infections in Namibia has declined by about 60%.

Namibia has made remarkable gains in expanding access to services that prevent new HIV infections among children: By mid-2012, more than 86% of pregnant women living with HIV received services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV—a threefold increase since 2005.

Ms Beagle noted that Namibia is on track to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. She commended Prime Minister Angula for his personal leadership in advocating for adequate nutrition of children in their first 1000 days of life which enhances their survival and health outcomes for the rest of their lives.

Prime Minister Angula was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in April 2012 as a member of the Lead Group for ‘Scaling-up Nutrition”—a movement that brings together more than 100 organizations and governments to address hunger and under-nutrition.

Gaps in reaching young people

Despite progress, the rate of new HIV infections in Namibia—estimated at 8000 in the period 2011-12—remains unacceptably high. In 2012, over 40% of new HIV infections occurred among young people aged 15-24; young women in this age group accounted for two thirds of these infections.

While acknowledging progress in Namibia’s HIV response, Prime Minister Angula emphasized the need for his country to further strengthen HIV prevention programmes. He said Namibia should implement innovative and non-stigmatizing approaches to reach young people—especially girls—with effective programmes.

Ms Beagle concurred, noting that youth engagement in the design of such programmes is critical. “We need to involve young people in developing effective interventions that meet their needs and ensure a reduction in new HIV infections,” she said.

She urged the Prime Minister to provide Namibian youth and people living with HIV with opportunities to meet with the most senior leaders in the country to discuss their needs and challenges. Prime Minister Angula expressed his commitment to the health needs of young people and emphasized that his door is open for them.

Ms Beagle emphasized the need to expand HIV prevention programmes for young people that encapsulate elements from both the health and education sectors. She emphasized the need to integrate age appropriate and comprehensive education on sexuality and HIV in the school curriculum.

Inadequate HIV prevention in temporary settlements

During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the lack of adequate HIV prevention programmes for populations in informal settlements. He said that such settlements are places where traditional cultural and social values that protect young people and—especially girls—have broken down, exacerbating the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection.

Ms Beagle agreed that the rapid expansion of informal settlements needs special attention. She said that policies need to be put in place to improve living conditions in informal settlements and to ensure that residents have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV services.

Shared responsibility

Ms Beagle emphasized the importance of a Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity in promoting the sustainability of AIDS responses across the continent. Adopted by the African Union in July 2012, the Roadmap is structured around three strategic pillars: health governance, diversified financing and access to medicines.

While in Namibia, Ms Beagle met the First Lady of Namibia, Madame Penehupifo Pohamba—current Chair of the Organization of First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS—and the Minister of Health, Honourable Dr. Richard N. Kamwi, Minister of Health and Social Services.

She engaged with development partners, civil society, and the UN country team and conducted a field visit to the regions in northern Namibia with a high HIV prevalence. She also spoke at the 5^th African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights on the need to integrate SRH and HIV responses and launched the Namibian Youth Health Forum.

The British Medical Association (BMA) highly commended the UNAIDS publication AIDS at 30: Nations at the crossroads (AIDS at 30) at their annual Book Awards ceremony held in London on 13 September 2012. AIDS at 30 had been selected among more than 800 books and other documents and was competing in the public health category.

Evaluating the accuracy, currency, appropriateness, quality, originality and value of the publications, the judges considered AIDS at 30 as “an important book with great information.”

Launched ahead of the High Level Meeting on AIDS that took place in New York in June 2011, AIDS at 30 contains scientific analysis, personal insights and the results of extensive national and regional consultations with governments and civil society organizations working in the AIDS response.

Marking the 30 years of AIDS, the report takes stock of the changes occurred in the AIDS epidemic and responses since the condition was first diagnosed in 1981. It also features commentaries from 15 leaders in the global AIDS response, including South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, former United States President Bill Clinton, former President of Brasil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, singer Angelique Kidjo and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

AIDS at 30 covers a wide range of areas, including the results achieved by HIV prevention efforts, the record number of people starting lifesaving treatment and the decline in resources for HIV. It also drew attention to the significant challenges remaining such as the gender inequalities and the increasing HIV prevalence among key populations at higher risk of infection.

The publication of the report was coordinated by UNAIDS Director of Evidence, Innovation and Policy, Bernhard Schwartlander. “We are very pleased that AIDS at 30 has been recognized by our peers as a valuable resource for information on the AIDS epidemic,” said Mr Schwartlander. “It is important for us to continue innovating in order to provide strategic information to the global AIDS community that is both accurate and visually enticing,” he added.

The BMA is a medical doctors’ professional organization established to look after the professional and personal needs of its members. The BMA represents doctors in all branches of medicine throughout the United Kingdom.