UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé speaks at UNICEF breakfast. 21 September 2010. Credit: UNAIDS/Hamilton

Virtual elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015 and the linkages between Millennium Development Goals 4 (Reduce child mortality), 5 (Improve maternal health) and 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) were the focus of a working session that took place on Tuesday 21^st September in New York as part of a MDGs Summit side event organized by UNICEF, WHO and UNAIDS.

“We must take AIDS out of isolation, leveraging investments in the global AIDS response to support progress across all other MDGs,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé during his intervention.

Participants to the working session included high level country representatives, heads of international organizations, representatives of civil society and donor government delegates.

HIV remains a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age globally as well as of maternal mortality and under-five mortality in several countries. Although delivery of proven mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) services has effectively eliminated MTCT in high-income countries, every day more than one thousand children in low-and middle income countries are newly infected with HIV via transmission during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.

Around 430,000 children are born with HIV each year and a new report released last week by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank shows that despite the 35% decline in maternal morality worldwide since 1990, there has been setbacks in many sub-Saharan African countries, mainly as a result of HIV. In Botswana, maternal mortality rose 133% between 1990 and 2008, in South Africa 80%, and in Kenya 38%. In some countries, more than half of maternal mortality is attributable to HIV, e.g. Botswana (77%), Swaziland (75%), Lesotho (59%), Zimbabwe (53%), and South Africa (43%). These numbers underscore the indivisibility of the MDGs and highlight the links between MDG 5 and 6.

As participants stressed, there is strong consensus among the international community and national governments that scaling up prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) is feasible and needs to be accelerated.

UNAIDS identified PMTCT as one of the 10 outcome areas for joint action by the UN Co-sponsors. The UNAIDS Executive Director’s call for virtual elimination has become a rallying point for advocacy, resource mobilization and actions at all levels.

It was noted during the session that while many countries are now showing remarkable progress, intensified efforts are urgently needed to reach all mothers and children with PMTCT services.

Participants agreed that effectively eliminating MTCT will require sustained political leadership, country commitment, and donor support.  Achieving the goal of MTCT elimination by 2015 also requires strengthening broader health systems and will both depend upon and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, and 6.

Lucy (standing) addresses the former First Lady of Nigeria Mrs. Turai Yar Adua during an advocacy visit by the Nigeria Task Team on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Lucy Attah has high hopes for this week’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit. As a woman living with HIV and a gender activist from Nigeria, she believes the summit is an important opportunity to discuss issues of women’s equality and empowerment as well as achieving universal access to HIV services. Participating the summit means that she can share her experiences of helping to strengthen the AIDS response in her country.

As Executive Director of Women and Children of Hope (WCH), a Nigerian NGO, Ms Attah works to raise awareness about HIV. WCH also helps women living with the virus provide for their own material, physical and psychological well-being. 

Ms Attah is member of a delegation of 13 representing networks of women living with HIV from all regions of the world.  The delegation’ activities are part of a UNDP-supported global advocacy and capacity building initiative, which seeks to increase the visibility and voice of women living with HIV in the assessment of country progress toward achieving the MDGs and universal access. The initiative is also a component of the UNAIDS Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV.

“Attending the summit is an opportunity for me to share the lessons and challenges of women’s empowerment and emancipation in our communities with the outside world.” says Ms Attah. “I will also use the lessons learned from success stories and best practices in other countries.”

WCH was formed by Ms Attah after testing positive for HIV in 1998. She was determined to address the prevailing stigma and discrimination which made her own life extremely difficult and which are still major barriers to the HIV response in the country. 

Significant progress has been made in reducing HIV prevalence in Nigeria. However, with more than 3% of adults—an estimated 2.6 million—living with the virus, only South Africa has a higher total number of people living with HIV. Women often bear the brunt of the epidemic and represent more than half of people living with HIV, 1.4 million women.

There are many reasons for women’s increased vulnerability to HIV infection.  Significant gender inequalities exist and women often find it difficult to protect themselves from HIV, particularly when they lack decision-making power. Levels of sexual violence are considered high and early marriage is common. Women tend to lack economic independence and those living in poverty often engage in sex work to make ends meet. 

Despite these obstacles Ms Attah is optimistic about attaining the MDGs.

“We still have some way to go but we can do it if women become more involved in public policy and decision-making, more economically empowered and better educated," she said. “And if there is stronger legislation against the abuse of women’s rights and gender-based violence. Our goals are ambitious but we can get there.”

Mr Jeffrey Sachs, special adviser to the UN Secretary General on the MDGs and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Mr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. 21 September, 2010.

Preventing mothers and babies from becoming infected with HIV was the focus at the Millennium Promise 2010 Partners’ Meeting, a side-event organized by the Millennium Promise in conjunction with the MDG Summit.

The aim of the meeting was to assess progress made by the partnerships within the Millennium Villages Project (MVP), an initiative designed to show that MDG targets can be achieved with an integrated and simultaneous package of health and development interventions.

Participants also discussed the way forward to achieve MTCT-Free Zones by 2015, which are regions where mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been eliminated. 

In September 2009, UNAIDS, its Cosponsors and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, embarked on a pilot initiative to establish MTCT-Free Zones in villages spread across 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This effort is being carried out through the Millennium Villages Project (MVP).

The meeting highlighted business activities and innovations that have emerged from the MVP, as well as high-profile partnerships supporting these efforts.

By working through the MVP, UNAIDS and the Earth Institute are able to couple the PMTCT initiative with the Millennium Villages’ core work. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment to bring together MVP’s multi-sectoral and evidence-informed development and primary health care strategy with UNAIDS and Cosponsors’ expertise in community and family-centered PMTCT and greater involvement of people living with HIV.

The partnership is yielding good results. Over the past year, all 10 countries where UNAIDS and the MVP are working have brokered relationships, prepared action plans, and commenced activities in the villages. Field teams are addressing systemic barriers such as low antenatal and post-natal care coverage, poor referral systems, poor access to early infant diagnosis services, low male involvement, and stigma.

The collaboration has helped countries to expand their PMTCT approach, increase PMTCT service coverage and enable infected children to be identified earlier, facilitating timely entry to care. The project is being expanded to adjacent villages and districts, and some countries are exploring national scale up.

Botswana’s coordinator of the National AIDS Coordinating Agency, Richard Matlhare, shares his thoughts on Botswana’s progress in MDG 6.

Richard Matlhare of Botswana’s National AIDS Coordinating Agency.

UNAIDS: What would you say is the greatest success to date in Botswana’s AIDS response?

Mr. Matlhare: There are two levels of success: governance and programme performance. In the area of governance, there is strong political will and leadership for the AIDS response. This has translated into domestic financial resource allocation which covers between 70 to 90 percent of the national response needs.

On the programmatic level, success can be seen in the robust antiretroviral treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programmes that have over 93% and 94% coverage rates respectively. The quality of life for people living with HIV has been enhanced and the number of AIDS deaths averted has significantly reduced by 50% since initiation of the treatment programme. Mother-to-child transmission has been reduced to less than 4%.

Uptake of voluntary counseling and testing services is also high, at 56% among those sexually active, and we have also seen a 90% uptake of testing at health facilities.

UNAIDS: Can you share some of the main obstacles to achieving MDG 6 in Botswana?

Mr. Matlhare: Although we have not been measuring incidence, the proxy indictor of HIV prevalence among 15 to 19 year olds, from ANC Sentinel Surveys, reveals that Botswana has been able to halt the spread of HIV from having an adult HIV prevalence of 24.7% in 2001 to 13.2% in 2009. However, achieving the current national targets of 50% reduction in incidence rates by 2016 is yet to be realized. The recently released “Know Your Epidemic and Response” report shows that low risk heterosexual sex is the main mode of transmission, with contextual factors being the main barrier to behavior change. More focus and efforts are needed to mobilize both communities and individuals for increased and sustained behavior change. But to realize this, a better understanding of the interventions that work best for us is needed.

UNAIDS: How are investments in the AIDS response in Botswana advancing the other MDGs?

Mr. Matlhare: The advent of HIV in Botswana stretched the capacity of our health system, revealing critical gaps that affected health outcomes. The AIDS response has been catalytic in strengthening our health systems. Some of the main benefits include an increase in the number of skilled human resources, the strengthening of the central medical stores in supply chain management, and upgrading of laboratory services. The impact of these improvements is not limited to HIV but across the other health-related MDGs.

Another notable area is the provision of support to orphans and vulnerable children. This has had a direct effect on reducing poverty—MDG 1. Unlike in some countries, Botswana’s AIDS programme does not differentiate between AIDS orphans and non-AIDS orphans; all orphans benefit. In addition, the free provision of antiretroviral treatment means that a person living with HIV does not have to divert his disposable income to purchase these lifesaving drugs. This programme has alleviated poverty and increased life expectancy. These are just a few examples of the impact of the AIDS response on the other MDGs.

UNAIDS: Should Botswana’s AIDS response be addressed as a stand alone public health issue or in tandem with other global health movements?

Mr. Matlhare: The focus on HIV in the first national strategic framework was critical to galvanize and mount an effective response, and we should be careful not to lose focus on the gains of addressing HIV as a stand alone health issue. However, as we enter into the era of the second national strategic framework, there is a need for a more holistic approach through integrated service delivery while still utilizing a multi-sectoral approach. This will ensure that the gains so far are consolidated while cost efficiency and economies of scale are achieved.

UNAIDS: What is happening in Botswana to make HIV prevention a priority?

Mr. Matlhare: In our new HIV policy and the second national strategic framework, prevention has been singled as the top priority. In addition, Botswana has developed a prevention plan that provides guidance to all stakeholders. To ensure success at the community level, partners have been mobilized to embark on proven prevention initiatives. The country is fully committed to increasing prevention resource allocation to match this prioritization. For instance, male circumcision has been adopted and its roll-out will complement other prevention efforts.

UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé, 21 September, 2010. Credit: UNAIDS/Hamilton

There is now global recognition that one Millennium Development Goal cannot be achieved without the others. The health sector, in particular, has realized that responses to Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6—to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat HIV malaria and other diseases—must be tackled together to improve people’s life.

At a side event of the UN Millennium Development Goals Review Summit taking place from 20 to 22 September in New York, Botswana shared its experiences in integrating health interventions and programmes in order to maximize resources and improve health outcomes.

Botswana, a country with an HIV prevalence of 23.9% in its adult population, has recently made progress in curbing the epidemic. Data shows that HIV prevalence among young people aged 15-24 years has been declining consistently since 2001. The country has also managed to tackle child mortality through expanded feeding programs for children under five together with near universal coverage of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

At the event, entitled “Toward an Integrated approach to Attaining Health Related Millennium Development Goals,” Mr Mompati S. Merafhe Vice President of Botswana, presented the country’s case to show what integrating health services means in practice.

According to Vice President Merafhe, Botswana was able to mount a credible response to AIDS, and strengthen health systems through an integrated approach. He stressed the importance of partnerships, including that of the United Nations.

“We have crated an enabling environment and we have closed gaps that take us on the road to reach the MDGs by 2015,” said Vice President Merafhe. “This has resulted in our success in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”

Research shows that countries with the highest incidence of HIV often have a high unmet need for family planning. Offering HIV services and contraceptives at the same facility, or even by the same health care worker, increases the opportunity to access services.

Mr Mompati S. Merafhe Vice President of Botswana, 21 September, 2010. Credit: UNAIDS/Hamilton

According to the panellist, the benefits of integrating services are many: combining interventions at point-of-care, as well as sharing a supply chain, and information systems are all examples of how resources can maximized. Importantly, they stressed the process also decreases out-of-pocket costs for the individual, through reducing the number of visits to health centres, thus minimizing travel time and cost, as well as fees associated with accessing services.

“As has been shown by Botswana’s leadership, the AIDS response can be the bridge that connects movements,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “Programmes advancing maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, sexual violence all contribute to achieving the MDGs.”

To assess the way forward the session included a range of topics on health service integration. Mr Erik Solheim, Minister of Environment and International Development of Norway gave the donors perspective. UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNFPA discussed the benefits of integration from the bilateral outlook. The Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) gave further insights from the implanting organizations point-of-view.

While there are many benefits of integrating health services, integration is not a “one-size-fits-all” strategy, according to the participants. For example, countries with a weak health system, integrating services may overburden an already stretched system. The process of planning and implementing integrated services also poses a number of technical challenges for governments, policy donors, program implementers, and health care workers.

At a ceremony held in New York on the eve of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit, the Kingdom of Cambodia was presented with an MDG Award for its outstanding national leadership, commitment and progress towards achievement of Goal 6 and particularly in working towards halting and reversing the spread of HIV.

Honoured within the ‘Government’ category of the annual Awards initiative, Cambodia is recognized for efforts on HIV that have contributed to a decline in HIV prevalence from an estimated 2% (among adults aged 15-49) in 1998 to 0.8% in 2008. The country has also achieved the universal access target for antiretroviral treatment, with over 90% of adults and children in need receiving treatment.

In selecting Cambodia, the MDG Awards Committee was particularly impressed with Cambodia’s successful scale-up of programmes, grounded in strong national leadership on HIV, the solid National Strategic Plan and collaborative partnerships, and adhering closely to the  ‘Three Ones’ principles.

“We are honoured to receive this award as important recognition of the joint efforts to address HIV in Cambodia,” said H.E. Dr. Teng Kunthy, Secretary-General of the Cambodia National AIDS Authority. “This outstanding success has been brought about by strong political support, leadership and commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia in solid partnership with and support by UN agencies, civil society, the private sector and all development partners – a partnership which we will continue to strengthen towards even greater results.”

“We congratulate Cambodia on this Award. This underlines how a well-coordinated, multi-sectoral response with commitment by all partners can lead to significant progress on HIV,” said Douglas Broderick, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia.

Innovative HIV prevention programming in Cambodia over the last ten years has included the introduction of the 100% Condom Use Policy, which showed successes in preventing new infections. Targeted education programmes for key affected populations have reached an estimated 90% of sex and entertainment workers and men who have sex with men.

Progress has also led to impact on the other health-related MDGs of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. Scale-up of HIV services has contributed to a nearly 50% decrease in HIV prevalence among pregnant women at antenatal clinics. In 2009, over 32% of HIV-infected pregnant women received treatment to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV – an increase from 11.2% in 2007.

Heralding the effective partnership between the government and other stakeholders engaged in the national response, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Cambodia, Tony Lisle, underlined the need for sustained, evidence-based and well-coordinated efforts.

“HIV is still a very real challenge in this country, and stigma and discrimination remain high,” said Mr Lisle. “We must now work together to ensure we continue reaching key people at risk and those affected by HIV through initiatives grounded in human rights. For Cambodia to stay ahead of its epidemic, we have to build further on the achievements made.”

The MDG Awards are held annually to support and raise awareness of the MDGs by providing a high profile platform to honour and celebrate exemplary efforts by national governments and civil society stakeholders in advancing the MDGs.

Mr Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director speaking at the Women Deliver meeting ahead of the MDG summit, 19 September 2010. Credit: UNAIDS/Hamilton

Ahead of the opening of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit at the UN in New York City, General Assembly delegates gathered today for a dialogue with bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), First Ladies, youth leaders and the private sector on how to secure the resources and political will needed to achieve the MDGs—with specific focus on delivering solutions for women, girls and babies.

The event, Accelerating Action on the MDGs: Delivering for Girls, Women and Babies, was organized by the global advocacy organization Women Deliver, and co-sponsored by UNFPA, WHO, World Bank and UNAIDS. Speakers included Ms Graça Machel, renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights, Mr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a managing director with the World Bank.

‘Achieving the MDGs is possible’

The speakers presented compelling cases for the possibility of achieving the MDGs, if the world’s leaders make the necessary resources available. With 110 million children not having access primary education—of which two thirds are girls—and women being disproportionally represented among the 1.4 billion people living below the poverty line, many of the MDGs seem far from attainable.

“This agenda will never succeed, if it remains only in the hands of us here in New York. It must be owned at the country level, by every head of state, every woman and every girl,” said Ms Machel.

Yet, the AIDS movement has effectively demonstrated that achieving the MDGs is possible: countries such as Botswana and Namibia are close to reaching the goal of virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; and, twenty-two of the most affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reduced new HIV infections by more than 25%. Key steps have been taken to stop and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015, as MDG 6 reads.

Integration of the MDGs

According to Mr. Sidibé, it is clear that investing in one MDG will help achieve the others. “Where HIV is prevented, maternal mortality decreases. When a mother’s life is saved; a newborn’s life is usually saved. When girls are educated, poverty decreases.” Mr Sidibé added that the AIDS response should be a bridge for joining health and development movements, such as maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, and women’s rights. “For me, it is clear: no progress on the MDGs without integration,” he said.

Other speakers at the event included Fred Sai, Ghanaian Family Health Physician, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO of Vestergaard Frandsen SA, and Imane Khachani, of the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Morocco. After each speaker, the audience discussed in small groups the challenges and shared their views and strategies on how they can be met and the way forward. The results of the discussions will be posted on the Women Deliver website.

Credit: StV-AT

On the 16 of September 2010, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations in Geneva, H.E Ambassador Reinhard Schweppe and UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé signed an agreement for Germany to continue supporting the work of UNAIDS. Germany will provide a total of € 4 million over the next two years.

The continuation of cooperation marks an appreciation of the Federal Government for the work of UNAIDS,” said Ambassador Schweppe.

Credit: StV-AT

While Germany is one of the top ten total contributors to UNAIDS Mr Sidibé stressed that that the cooperation with Germany is not only based on funding. “This is a true partnership,” Mr Sidibé said.

GTZ, The German Technical Cooperation, is a key implementing partner on the ground in many countries with high HIV prevalence working directly with communities most affected by the epidemic.

The federal Government of Germany contributes more than € 500 million per year towards AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as work towards strengthening health systems, and is a strong supporter of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

There is a lot to be hopeful for as the milestone of reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is approached. Much has been achieved—fewer people are dying of AIDS-related illnesses and the rate of new HIV infections has fallen by more than 17% since 2001.

This new report provides an overview of six key aspects of AIDS response today:

1. New HIV infections are falling.
2. More than 5 million people are on HIV treatment.
3. HIV prevention works.
4. Virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission is possible by 2015.
5. Criminalization is challenging the AIDS response.
6. Investing for AIDS is a shared responsibility.

Read the full report .

Maksut Karimovitch Kulzhanov, the head of Kazakhstan’s Public Health Institute and representative for Eastern Europe on the Board of The Global Fund, shares his views on Kazakhstan’s progress
towards MDG 6.

Maksut Karimovitch Kulzhanov, the head of Kazakhstan’s Public Health Institute.

UNAIDS: What would you consider Kazakhstan’s biggest achievement in its HIV response?

Mr. Kulzhanov: I would mention several successes. First, the epidemic in our country is being contained at the concentrated stage and roughly at the same level. Second, public funding of the AIDS response is steadily increasing, and even though these resources are still inadequate, we can consider it as an achievement, seeing ten years ago we didn’t have them at all. In my opinion, an important development is the enhanced work with vulnerable populations and the growing support provided by the government to NGOs. The new law adopted to promote the activities of NGOs is facilitating involvement of civil society in outreach work, which is one of top priorities for Kazakhstan.

UNAIDS: What are the main obstacles for achieving MDG 6 in Kazakhstan?

Mr. Kulzhanov: The main obstacles are probably similar to those found in other countries, such as the complexity of working with vulnerable populations and making the various governmental bodies and authorities understand certain aspects of the epidemic. There are also problems with access to treatment. Today, Kazakhstan doesn’t have the capacity on its own to provide antiretroviral treatment to all who are in need. This is where assistance provided by The Global Fund is crucial, as it helps to maintain treatment coverage at an acceptable level.

UNAIDS: Do you believe that investments in Kazakhstan’s AIDS response contribute to achieving the other MDGs?

Mr. Kulzhanov: Investments into the AIDS response in Kazakhstan is targeted to activities in this specific area. As to other MDGs, in particular decreasing child mortality and maternal health, the government is making serious efforts in this area and some progress has been made. These goals are also a priority for Kazakhstan, which adopted three years ago the WHO criteria, as well as their methodology and approaches. This is already yielding good results.

UNAIDS: What can be done to change the course of Kazakhstan’s HIV epidemic?

Mr. Kulzhanov: A very important aspect is the funding and planning of the response. Unfortunately, in our region – and in Kazakhstan specifically – the governments do not yet have the capacity to ensure funding of the response, and not infrequently they also lack the relevant know-how in this field. That is why we attach great importance to working with The Global Fund, which is virtually the only agency that can make a real impact in terms of funding the response. On the other hand, it is important to work with other international organizations, such as UNAIDS, which provide crucial technical and consultative support.

As a representative of our region on Board of The Global Fund the number one task today is to change the criteria that were adopted by The Global Fund a few years ago and that are now severely restricting our countries in their eligibility for grants. The categories of countries as defined by the World Bank based on their income do not always reflect the reality in all its complexity.

In our region, where the gap between the rich and the poor is very wide, and the overall situation in terms of well-being is rather good, certain populations live in deep poverty. It is exactly within these population groups that the epidemic is spreading especially fast. This is what is overlooked in The Global Fund criteria. We must do everything to change these criteria, so that The Global Fund works for all countries. This is particularly important for our region, which is just a step away from a generalized epidemic.

UNAIDS: What is being done in your country to prioritize HIV prevention?

Mr. Kulzhanov: Our official programmes list HIV prevention among the five programmatic priorities but a lot remains to be done, for example in the area of HIV prevention among migrants. Migration in the region is on the rise. There are legal migrants and illegal migrants, with the latter often being in the majority. They are completely isolated from all services – no access to medical services, education and information. When we conducted a pilot survey at one of the large markets in Almaty, it revealed that among the migrants, mostly represented by sexually active young people, many simply do not know about condoms or other means of protection. So a lot needs to be done in this area. Overall, we lack coordination and better multi-sectoral interaction. We must join efforts at all levels.