(from left) Miguel Bustos, Senior Program Manager at the Levi Strauss Foundation; John Hassell, UNAIDS Caribbean Senior Adviser for Regional Partnerships; Ernest Massiah, UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team Director; Maurice Tomlinson, AIDS Free World attorney and advocate; Miriam Edwards, Guyana Sex Worker Coalition President; Edward Greene, UN Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS for the Caribbean.
Credit: UNAIDS/Daniel Volmy

The UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team launched the Caribbean Coalition for Social Justice (CCSJ) during the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference, held in the Bahamas in November. The Barbados-based Coalition will pool resources and provide legal services for people in the region who have been victims of arbitrary acts of discrimination but do not have access to the courts.

“The most vulnerable groups of Caribbean society often have no access to the justice system when their rights are violated based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or HIV status,” said Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team. “This new organisation will address legitimate human rights violations in courts of law as well as regional and international human rights tribunals.”

United Nations Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS for the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene, welcomed the newly formed Coalition, saying that it was a significant step for the region toward fulfilling its obligations to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. “The creation of the Caribbean Coalition for Social Justice will give us hope that we can eliminate discrimination,” said Dr Greene.

The Caribbean HIV Conference brought together researchers, policy-makers and advocates to discuss ways to scale-up the HIV response in the Caribbean. “We’ve reached the peak in resources and probably global interest,” said Alan Whiteside, professor at the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, speaking at the conference. Prof Whiteside said the Caribbean urgently needed to scale up effective prevention methods and find effective approaches for fostering behaviour change, including fewer sexual partners, fewer concurrent partners and reduced substance abuse.

Amalia Del Riego, Senior Adviser at the Pan American Health Organisation HIV Caribbean Office, highlighted several of the region’s successes - progress in eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, mortality reduction, and increased access to HIV testing and treatment services.

Despite this progress, several gaps need to be addressed in the region. Ms Del Riego noted that in some countries between 30 and 40 percent of funds assigned to the HIV response are spent on administrative costs. Men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers and young people continue to have limited access to services. Furthermore, many of the activities under the HIV prevention umbrella cannot be linked to concrete results.

The Caribbean continues to have one of the highest regional HIV prevalence rates after sub-Saharan Africa, although the epidemic has slowed considerably since the mid-1990s.

To contribute to or learn more about the Caribbean Coalition for Social Justice, email hassellj@unaids.org.

Dr. Meskerem Grunitzky-Bekele, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for West and Central Africa accepts the Society for AIDS in Africa’s award for her extraordinary commitment to the AIDS response in Africa.
Credit: UNAIDS/P.Wiggers

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) launched its Strategic Plan for 2011 - 2015 at the side-lines of the 16^th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). The SAA presented its strategy, together with the long-term vision of an African continent free of HIV, TB and Malaria.

Writing the foreword for the strategic plan, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé said that the recent progress seen in the AIDS response, such as the 20% drop in new HIV infections over the past 10 years, could never have been possible without the dynamic drive of the scientific community.

“The Society for AIDS in Africa [as the] custodian of the International Conference of AIDS and STIs in Africa offers researches, policy-makers and communities a platform for exchange, mobilization and promotion of scientific innovation,” said Mr Sidibé. 

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Programme, Dr Paul De Lay, who spoke on behalf of Mr Sidibé at the launch of the strategy, outlined that, in addition to adopting the UNAIDS vision Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths, the SAA strategy also calls for zero malaria and zero tuberculosis, while advocating for the promotion of social justice and equity in treatment access. “We fully support this comprehensive vision,” said Dr De Lay.  

The SAA’s five year strategic plan recognizes the need for increased evidence-informed programmes to respond to HIV in Africa. It capitalizes on SAA’s strength of ICASA as the leading forum for sharing AIDS research to drive policy on the continent as well as to advocate for an enabling environment to prevent HIV.

“Bringing science, politics and communities together—as AIDS conferences do—can shape the agenda, set benchmarks and re-energize people to strive towards common goals,” said Dr De Lay.

Other speakers at the event were the President of SAA, Prof. Robert Soudré, IAS President, Elly Katabira and the Executive Director of SAfAIDS Louis Chingandu who revealed that Durban, South Africa will host the next ICASA, scheduled to take place in 2013.

Leadership awards

An award ceremony also took place at the event to recognize people who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the Society for AIDS in Africa’s AIDS response in Africa over the past few years. Dr. Meskerem Grunitzky-Bekele, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for West and Central Africa, was among the recipients. She received the award from the Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former UNAIDS Executive Director Prof. Peter Piot.

“I’ve always believed in partnerships and team work,” said Dr Grunitzky-Bekele. “This award is truly a recognition of the leadership of those working on the AIDS response in Africa.” Other recipients of the award included Professor Femi Soyinka, a former SAA President, and Mr. Bernard Kadasia, Director of Policy and Communications at the International AIDS Society.

The Society for AIDS in Africa is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1989 which has as its vision an African continent free of HIV, TB and Malaria. It aims to achieve this goal by promoting policies and research that support government responses to these diseases.

From left to right: President of the World Council of Churches, Abune Paulos I. Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, African Union Social Affairs Commissioner Ms Bience Gawanas, Minister of Health of Mali, Ms Madeleine Ba Diallo, former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Minister of Health of Algeria, Mr Oueld Zbel Yastahel Kadad, and the Minister of Health of Rwanda, Dr Agnes Binagwaho. 5 December, 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/J. Ose.

African leaders met on Monday 5 December at a special roundtable session during the International Conference of AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2011) to take stock of the efforts and promises made towards the AIDS response, the challenges and the way forward to fulfill these commitments.

Participants at the roundtable session were UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Minister of Health of Algeria, Mr Oueld Zbel Yastahel Kadad, Minister of Health of Rwanda, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health of Mali, Ms Madeleine Ba Diallo, African Union Social Affairs Commissioner Ms Bience Gawanas and the President of the World Council of Churches, Abune Paulos I.

Initial discussions evolved around the role of African leaders in the HIV response and the efforts devoted to mobilize resources locally. In his opening remarks, Mr Sidibé called upon African leaders to find ways to sustain and scale up progress made in the region while trying to be more independent from external resources. “If we don’t have political leadership the transformation of the AIDS response in the region will not happen,” said Mr Sidibé.

Participants articulated the efforts and promises made toward the AIDS response, in particular with respect to the Millennium Development Goals and the Abuja and Maputo declarations. “We have created a political platform but we must keep AIDS high in the political agenda,” said Ms Gawanes. “Now is the time when these declarations need to be translated into better life for people,” she added.

Ambassador Goosby reiterated the commitment from the United States towards an HIV-free generation as well as his government’s decision to scale up efforts to put more people on HIV treatment.

The speakers highlighted the progress made in the AIDS response, both in Africa and globally, but were quick to stress that challenges still exist and continue to arise. All participants agreed that if HIV prevention programmes are to be fully implemented communities must be engaged and adequately funded.

The Middle East and North Africa regional Report on AIDS 2011 is launched in Cairo on the 4th of December 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS.

A report on the HIV epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) shows that while the overall HIV prevalence in the region is still low, the rise in new infections since 2001 has put the MENA region among the top two regions in the world with the fastest growing HIV epidemic.

The report was released on the 4 December under the auspices of the League of Arab States (LAS) in Cairo, Egypt. The event brought together the Arab States delegates and Ambassadors accredited to the Arab Republic of Egypt, civil society organizations including associations of people living with HIV, donors, religious leaders, community groups and media, private sector, Goodwill Ambassadors and UN agencies.

The report shows that there has been significant policy development and scale up of programmes indicating an increased political will in the region to address the AIDS epidemic. The majority of countries in the region have put in place national strategies to address AIDS and some have initiated programmes for key populations at higher risk, including sex workers, people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Programmes, Dr Paul De Lay, applauded the progress made. “Ten years ago, HIV was not on the political agenda in the Middle East and North Africa. Today, all countries in the region have become more engaged in the HIV response,” said Dr De Lay.

According to the report, the estimated number of adults and children living with HIV in the region increased from 330,000 [200,000-480,000] in 2001 to 580,000 [430,000- 810,000] in 2010. The report attributes this rise to increased number of new HIV infections among key populations at higher risk and transmission of the virus to their sexual partners.

In 2010, there were 84,000 [57,000-130,000] new HIV infections and 39,000 [28,000-53,000] AIDS-related deaths in the Middle East and North Africa region. The annual estimated new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortality has almost doubled in the past decade. While countries have increased provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by 25% in the last year, the total regional coverage remains low, with only 8% of eligible people living with HIV accessing treatment in 2010.

Civil society organizations are now playing a more prominent role in the HIV response compared to just a few years ago. However, key challenges to scale up AIDS programmes among key populations at higher risk of HIV still remain. “Work with key populations is difficult in settings where the levels of stigma and discrimination are high and the overall support from governments is limited,” said Mrs Hind Khatib-Othman, UNAIDS Director of the Regional Support team for MENA region.

Key political declarations adopted in the region include the 2010 Dubai Consensus Statement and the 2011 Riyadh Charter. Professor Ziad A. Memish, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, representing the Minister of Health who is also Chair of the Ministerial Steering Committee of the LAS, spoke about the Arab Initiative—a follow up mechanism to the Riyadh Charter—as an important step for the region to ensure it lives up to international commitments.

Dr Sima Bahous, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Social Development Sector at the League of Arab States welcomed the report and pointed to the existing relations of cooperation between the Arab League and UNAIDS. Dr Bahous also stressed the Arab League’s keenness to work with all the relevant stakeholders to achieve the targets of the Millennium Developmental Goals and the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by the UN General Assembly. “It is time to act on the commitments and take necessary measures to keep HIV prevalence low,” said Dr Bahous.

The report outlines many recommendations on how to strengthen the AIDS response in the MENA region. These include review of laws and policies that hinder access to HIV prevention and treatments services, to invest smartly using an evidence-informed and human rights based approach, and the importance of strong political leadership.

“Decision-makers need to demonstrate the political courage to focus the response on the populations most affected by HIV. The 2011 Political Declaration should be the foundation for such leadership,” concluded Dr De Lay.

The XVI International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2011) opened on Sunday 4 December in Addis Ababa. Delegates from across the world are convening in Ethiopia to discuss the HIV-related challenges faced by Africa, as well as future strategies for consolidation and development of national AIDS responses.

Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Meles Zenawi welcomed all participants and encouraged them to fully participate and share experiences than can contribute to bring an end to the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The Prime Minister also recognized the important contribution of international partners in providing antiretroviral treatment, but he stressed that it is time for Africa to own the response. “We must urgently devise African led innovations to defeat HIV,” said Prime Minister Zenawi.

This year’s conference theme, ‘Own, Scale-up and Sustain,’ was selected to emphasize the need for increased country ownership and commitment in the AIDS response. Statements at the opening ceremony were made by former President of the United States of America George W. Bush, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, young women living with HIV, Melao Phillipus and Professor Robert Soudré, President of the Society for AIDS in Africa.

Mr Sidibé, in his key note, emphasized that 2012 would be a crucial year for the AIDS response. He welcomed the recent progress made in both scientific research and expanding access to HIV treatment, but also cautioned against losing ground as a result of the global financial crisis.

“We have seen unprecedented progress. But I am scared by unfolding events. We need to continue investing in areas where we are producing results,” said Mr Sidibé. “But to scale up and sustain the progress made, we must create a new framework for Africa, based on country ownership, shared responsibility, mutual accountability and social justice,” he added.

President Bush, who is currently travelling through Africa to promote the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative, made a stop in Ethiopia to participate in the conference. In his address, President Bush praised the Obama Administration for their continued support to the global AIDS response.  “We are breaking the grip of AIDS—but this only the beginning. There is a lot of work to be done,” said President Bush. “In moments of economic crisis there can be a temptation for Americans to disengage from the world. But we cannot retreat. There is no greater priority than saving a human life.”

Representing young people, Ms Phillipus denounced the nonexistence of comprehensive sexual education and HIV services adapted for adolescents and young people in most African countries. She highlighted the heterogeneity of youth groups and their varied needs which are not being addressed. She said that the needs of young parents are not the same as those of students or young professionals. “I challenge all delegates to spell out what actions they will take to empower the youth,” concluded Ms Phillipus.

Sessions, workshops and community development

ICASA 2011 is intended to provide a forum to link political and national leaders, the scientific community, practitioners, communities, civil societies, the private sector and partners to scale-up and sustain the AIDS response. The conference is organizing a series of plenary and satellite sessions, workshops and community development programmes that are designed to generate support for the AIDS response, discuss common values and share best practices.

Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Meles Zenawi giving an award to former President of the United States of America George W. Bush for his contribution to the AIDS response.
Credit: UNAIDS/J.Ose

In addition, the conference will also host the community dialogue space and the human rights networking zone. The community dialogue space is dedicated to highlighting stories of grassroots achievements in AIDS responses and the challenges faced by community-led action around the world. The human rights networking zone is an open space to share good practices around HIV, TB and human rights in Africa as well as to discuss HIV and human rights challenges that are common to many countries on the continent. The networking zone sessions will cover key topics such as the criminalization of HIV transmission and exposure, coercive practices in sexual and reproductive health, including HIV testing, coerced sterilization and termination of pregnancy.

Hosted by the government of Ethiopia, the international partners for ICASA 2011 include the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), as well as its Cosponsors the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF); and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).The conference will run until December 8.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé meets with the Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Meles Zenawi at his office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Credit: UNAIDS

Ahead of the opening of the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa (ICASA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with the Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Meles Zenawi at his office in the capital.

During the meeting, Mr Sidibé commended the Prime Minister for his strong political leadership and the country’s ownership of the AIDS response. “It is encouraging to see the Government of Ethiopia at the forefront of the HIV response,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director. "Ethiopia’s remarkable efforts to contain the epidemic and the integration of AIDS into the national health and development agenda will ensure sustainable results."

The two leaders discussed the need for robust political momentum for shared values and responsibilities to expand and sustain the AIDS response. Although many countries in Africa have increased their domestic investments on HIV in recent years, they continue to rely heavily on international assistance. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi expressed a strong commitment to initiate a political debate in Africa on country ownership and shared responsibility for the AIDS response.

Expressing concern about the current global financial crisis and reduction in international assistance available for AIDS, Mr Sidibé stressed that Africa would need to find innovative ways of increasing domestic resources. “We need predictable and long-term financing—domestic and international—to restore confidence among people for accessing HIV prevention and treatment services," said Mr Sidibé.

According to Ethiopian government sources, by the end of 2010, an estimated 1.2 million people were living with HIV in the country. In 2010, more than 9 million people received HIV counselling and testing. HIV counselling and testing sites in the country increased from 658 in 2004 to 2 309 in 2010. Currently, 743 public and private health facilities in Ethiopia are providing antiretroviral treatment services for 330 000 people living with HIV, up from just three health facilities in 2004.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius speaks at UNAIDS' World AIDS Day event in Washington, DC. Panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, including one from TASO Uganda, are displayed behind the Secretary.
Credit: UNAIDS.

On a day when President Barack Obama announced new United States’ commitments to the AIDS response, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, spoke at a Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) hosted World AIDS Day commemoration event entitled "From Local to Global: Finding Common Cause in the AIDS Response."

The event was organized in collaboration with the District of Colombia (DC) Community Coalition for AIDS 2012 to help foster collaboration and shared learning between the United States domestic and the international HIV communities ahead of the International AIDS Conference to be held in Washington, DC in July 2012.

Secretary Sebelius called upon the audience of 300 activists, implementers and policy makers to redouble their efforts to reach an AIDS-free generation and to push towards the “Getting to Zero” vision both in the United States and globally. She reiterated an announcement by President Obama earlier in the day that the United States would support 6 million people on treatment in low- and middle income countries by 2013 and also allocate a further US$50 million to U.S. domestic programs.

The highlight of the event was a performance by the Hope for Africa’s Children Choir from Mukono, Uganda. The choir, which is includes children living with or orphaned by HIV, is visiting the United States at the invitation of the United Methodist Church and with the support of UNAIDS. Their compelling music and story-telling reinforced the tremendous progress made in the AIDS response, but also the substantial work that remains to be done.

Highlighting the HIV epidemic in the United States, Mr. George Kerr, a resident of Washington living with HIV, spoke for an urgent need for improved access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for citizens of Washington, DC.

Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA moderated the programme which also included remarks from Deborah von Zinkernagel, Principal Deputy Coordinator for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), U.S. Congressman Donald Payne, and Mr Kerr of the DC Community Coalition for AIDS2012.

Three quilt panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, which documents the life stories of more than 40,000 lives lost to AIDS, were also exhibited during the event.

L to R: President of the Society for AIDS in Africa, Prof. Robert Soudré, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations, Jan Beagle, Commissioner Bience Gawanas of the African Union Commission opening the community village.
Credit: UNAIDS/J.Ose

The dialogue space dedicated to community organizations was inaugurated today at the 2011 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). The area, which is the heart of the Community Village at the conference, provides a space for grassroots and community based organizations to present innovative, local responses to the AIDS epidemic.

The community dialogue space of this year’s conference is organized by UNAIDS with support from UNDP, Irish Aid and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. It is an integral part of the Red Ribbon Award Initiative that recognizes outstanding community work on AIDS. The 10 African Red Ribbon Award winning community-based organizations from 2010 are running the community space.

Opening the Community Village, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director for Management and External Relations, Jan Beagle stressed that most innovative and successful responses have often come from communities that are directly affected by the epidemic. “Communities have been central in developing the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said Ms Beagle. “Ending the epidemic is a shared responsibility and together we can do it.”

The dialogue space is a physical area designed to encourage discussions and provide a meeting place for policymakers and activists. “We need to work together,” said Innocent Laison, Director of Programmes at African Council of AIDS Service Organizations. “We need evidence from science but we also need the leadership and the heart of the communities,” he added.

All sessions within the community dialogue space are purposely unstructured and encourage direct dialogue with the audience. Discussions will focus on issues such as the realization of economic, political and social rights, access to HIV services as well as addressing stigma and discrimination that still prevails in many communities in the region. Particular emphasis will be placed on human rights and key populations at higher risk of HIV infection like sex workers, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs.

The community dialogue space will also focus on community engagement in the recently launched Global Plan towards the Elimination of new HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping their Mothers Alive. Community representatives will also have the opportunity to discuss about their expectations on the community mobilization aspect of the UNAIDS investment framework.

The community dialogue space has been a regular feature at every ICASA conference since its inception in 2006.  UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations used the occasion to announce the launch of the 2012 round of the Red Ribbon Award, which will honor ten exceptional community organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the response to AIDS.

The Association Penitentiare Africaine (APA) is an NGO from Burkina Faso that ensures that the HIV prevention and care needs of prison inmates are addressed and is one of the 2010 Red Ribbon Award winners. “The Red Ribbbon Award programme has been instrumental in strengthening our credibility and increasing the impact of APA’s work,” said Julien Tougouri from APA.

Other Speakers at the opening of the dialogue space included Rosemary Nburu, KANKO; Béatrice Kogoyire, Rwandan Network of people living with HIV; and Joel Gustave Nana, from African Men for Sexual Health and Rights.

Credit: UNAIDS

UNAIDS has conducted a 15-country survey* to understand the possible impact of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s recent decision to cancel its next funding round (Round 11). The survey looks at the impact of this decision on  countries’ ability to scale up access to HIV and tuberculosis programmes.  The UNAIDS country offices, who participated in the survey, have expressed serious concerns about the potential disruption of HIV treatment and prevention services starting from 2014. Findings also point towards long-term challenges in meeting the 2015 AIDS targets adopted by world leaders at the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS in June this year.

Half of the respondents said the cancellation of Round 11 and proposed cuts in Phase 2 funding would be “catastrophic” for national AIDS responses.

“Countries may have to reprogramme existing funds and simultaneously identify new sources of funding to sustain and scale up HIV prevention and treatment programmes,” said Tim Martineau, UNAIDS Director of Programme Effectiveness and Country Support. “UNAIDS is working closely with countries and will further scale up its effort to identify the critical gaps and urgent steps needed to sustain national AIDS responses.”

UNAIDS is supporting countries to undertake cost-effectiveness studies to enable the reprogramming of existing funds. UNAIDS is also helping countries to identify bottlenecks, funding and programmatic gaps between 2012 and 2015, and potential cost-saving interventions. Over the next year, UNAIDS will offer guidance to countries in revising their current investments in HIV.

“In Cambodia, major studies are under way and partners are coordinating their efforts to identify where to best build efficiencies and use innovative approaches to maintain the momentum at less cost,” said Tony Lisle, UNAIDS Country Coordinator.

In Zimbabwe, findings from a recent gap analysis showed that there are major problems with commodities and supply. The analysis also showed that the annual need for funding amounts to US$ 300 million; a decline in funding from the Global Fund would mean major setbacks in Zimbabwe’s response to the epidemic.

Many of the respondents reported that while existing resources in the short term can meet the needs of people already on treatment, the momentum to add new people on life saving treatment would diminish. For example, Indonesia has scaled up HIV testing and counselling and has doubled the numbers of people on treatment over the last three years. However the country’s AIDS response is heavily dependent on funding from the Global Fund and a reduction in investments would severely decrease Indonesia’s ability to continue scaling up.

In Ukraine, the government agreed to co-financing the HIV treatment programmes together with Global Fund’s support—a significant step in increasing access. A policy shift to scale up harm reduction programmes implemented in collaboration with non-governmental organizations is now in danger of being derailed as crucial funds from Round 10 have not yet been made available. The HIV epidemic in Ukraine is primarily concentrated among injecting drug users. Just under 50% of the estimated 230,000-369,000 injecting drug users are estimated to be living with HIV.

“Timely funding is critical for Ukraine. There is a lot of positive political momentum and the international community must fulfil its part of the promise,” said Ani Shakarishvili, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in the Ukraine. “If the Global Fund resources do not come in time, harm reduction programmes will be in a crisis mode.”

Three quarters of the countries surveyed were relying on a new injection of funds from the Global Fund to either continue their HIV services or expand them. Many countries had already started preparation of Round 11 proposals. Country Coordination Mechanisms, the body responsible for overseeing Global Fund programme implementation in countries, had already identified their investment priorities—in many cases focusing essential programmes for sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users--populations at higher risk of HIV infection, and on stopping new infections among children and TB-HIV integration. 

 “We are very concerned by the cancellation of Round 11 as it risks undermining the progress South Africa has achieved in preventing new HIV infections, particularly among children,” said Catherine Sozi, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in South Africa. “Reductions in funding for TB is also a major concern. Without any new funding for TB services, AIDS-related deaths could increase as fewer people living with HIV will be able to receive TB treatment.”  In South Africa, 40% of HIV related deaths are due to TB.

In addition, the change in funding in 2012-13 being limited to continuation of essential treatment services only, could result in reduced funding for civil society organizations, who often fail to get resources from governments. “Civil society organizations are the foundations and building blocks of the AIDS response. They must have access to resources for continuing their work on HIV treatment and prevention,” said Mr Martineau.

At the Global Fund’s meeting in November, the Board decided to cancel Round 11.  In response, the Fund has set up a new transitional funding mechanism to ensure the continuation of HIV services that may face disruption over the next two years. The Global Fund is expected to publish further information on its website in mid-December.

*The following fifteen UNAIDS country offices participated in the survey - Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. UNAIDS will expand its survey to include 70 countries worldwide.

Ms. Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations speaks at the World AIDS Day commemoration in Addis Ababa.
Credit: UNAIDS.

Ethiopia’s progress in its national AIDS response has been celebrated at a World AIDS Day commemoration event in Addis Ababa, which was attended by the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations, Ms. Jan Beagle.

Ms. Beagle was joined by the President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Girma Wolde-Giorgis, Minister of Health, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the Mayor of Addis Ababa and the Executive Director of the Network of Networks of HIV Positives in Ethiopia, Dereje Alemayehu. Key supporters of the Ethiopian national AIDS response also participated in the commemoration, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has invested more than US$ 1.4 billion in country’s AIDS response.

Remarkable scale-up

Speaking at the commemoration, Ms. Beagle commended Ethiopia’s achievements said, “Ethiopia's remarkable leadership in investing in voluntary counselling and testing has resulted in more than 9.4 million people receiving HIV counselling and testing in 2011 alone, and subsequent increased access to HIV services, in particular antiretroviral treatment.”

The HIV epidemic in Ethiopia is largely concentrated in urban areas and represents one of the biggest epidemics in Africa. It is estimated that in the capital city of Addis Ababa alone, some 300 000 people are living with HIV, equivalent to approximately 25% of all Ethiopians living with HIV.

Speakers at the World AIDS Day commemoration highlighted recent progress in the national response, including dramatic declines in HIV incidence in urban areas. The high-level participants also congratulated the Government on its hosting of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), which starts on 4 December and is considered a key advocacy platform for the continent’s response.

AIDS free generation in Ethiopia

Alongside the aspiration of an AIDS free generation in Ethiopia, speakers identified the UNAIDS goal of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths as a common vision for stakeholders.

A group of mothers living with HIV addressed the audience and highlighted how the provision of services to eliminate new HIV infections among children meant that their babies were born free of HIV.

At a commemoration at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa earlier the same day, representatives of the AU, Member States, civil society, youth groups, and international organizations celebrated impressive results in the AIDS response throughout the African continent.

Concerns were raised about dwindling international resources available for AIDS programmes, and there were calls for AU Member States to increase domestic investments in order to ensure the sustainability of the response. There was also a commitment to the principle of shared responsibility, which was described as timely and required. The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Ms. Bience Gawanas, said, “Funding the AIDS response is a good investment and a shared responsibility of all countries. Member States of the African Union will have to invest more domestic resources in the response”.