World AIDS Day, marked each year on December 1, brings the world together to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region worst affected by HIV. As reported by WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF in 2011, Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa in particular, is disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. It is home to 12 per cent of the world’s population and to 68 per cent of the world’s HIV-infected population. Of these, 60 per cent are women. Africa is also home to more than 90 per cent of the world’s HIV-infected children. In 2011, an estimated 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, among which approximately 300,000 were children.
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The HIV/AIDS burden places huge stress on health and other services in a continent that has been severely affected by war, disease and poor governance. As Africa’s leading health development organisation working with communities, AMREF is committed to the global goal of ‘getting zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Getting to ‘Goal Zero’ has many biological, demographic, social and political challenges that need to be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV and in need of life-long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the previous upward trend in financial resources has suffered a serious downturn. The road to Goal Zero will therefore require a tremendous multi-sectoral, coordinated, resourced, evidence-based effort with strong leadership.
On World AIDS Day 2012, AMREF calls for greater focus and action in the following three areas:
1. Increased HIV Testing and Counselling for men
Population-based surveys conducted in selected low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa show that more women than men report having an HIV test and starting on anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Hence, AMREF advocates expansion of innovative methods such as couple and family HIV Testing and Counselling to increase testing of men, as well as access and adherence to ART.
2. Integration of TB/HIV with Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Services
Though a lot of countries are advocating the integration of TB and HIV with Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) services, implementation is still weak, especially in ensuring that TB patients who test positive for HIV are started on ART. Nor are there any clear guidelines or policies on integration of TB with MNCH. AMREF strongly advocates integration of TB and HIV with existing MNCH services across the board. In partnership with the World Health Organisation, AMREF is developing an integration model using MNCH service as an entry point for provision of Provider-Initiated Testing and Counselling, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission, TB-Directly Observed Treatment Short course, Family Planning and Sexually Transmitted Infection services. Integrated approaches aim at providing all services at one stop, thus increasing coverage, reducing the number of visits and maximising on the use of limited human and financial resources.
3. Resource Mobilisation for Provision of Treatment
Although tremendous effort has been made to avert the spread of HIV/AIDS, the pandemic remains a long-term global challenge. While incidences of global HIV/AIDS are declining, rates of new infections remain very high in many sub-Saharan African countries. More than 6.6 million people currently have access to HIV treatment. However, these gains are threatened by a decline in resources available for HIV prevention and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Funding for treatment will soon become a challenge as the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which has facilitated availability of cheap antiretroviral drugs, expires in 2016. To tackle the funding problem AMREF calls upon national governments, Civil Society Organisations, Faith-Based Organisations and other relevant institutions to push for the agreement beyond 2016. AMREF also strongly urges African governments to include ART financing in their respective national budgets.
AMREF will continue to empower communities in finding sustainable solutions to ensure that there is lasting health change in Africa.
Dr Abebe Aberra, AMREF Programme Lead, HIV/AIDS/TB
AMREF is a transparent organisation distributing funds of up to $85 million per year.
