UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé with Prime Minister of Mozambique, H.E. Aires Aly Bonifácio
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Mozambique’s Prime Minister, H.E. Aires Aly Bonifácio as part of his four-day official visit to the country. During the meeting Mr Sidibé stressed the importance of high level political leadership, ownership and commitment to long-term predictable financing as a prerequisite for sustainable national AIDS response.
Mr. Sidibé applauded the Government’s commitment and rapid follow-up action to implement the Political Declaration adopted in June at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS. “The urgency demonstrated by the Government of Mozambique to align their national strategies with the outcomes of the Political Declaration should be a model to other countries” said the Executive Director.
The urgency demonstrated by the Government of Mozambique to align their national strategies with the outcomes of the Political Declaration should be a model to other countries
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé
Mr Sidibé underscored the importance of a prevention revolution to stop new HIV infections as well as the need to integrate the AIDS response with health and social development efforts. “Mozambique has the second highest rate of new adult HIV infections in the world. There is a need to accelerate prevention programmes,” said Mr Sidibé.
By the end of 2010, more than 200,000 people living with HIV were receiving life-saving treatment, care and support services in the country. The national programme to prevent new HIV infections in children has rapidly expanded with the opening of 909 sites in 2010 providing 67 percent coverage to pregnant women. However, Mozambique remains one of the top five countries in the world contributing to new HIV infections among children.
Expressing concern about the fact that 97 percent of Mozambique’s AIDS budget is generated from external sources, Mr Sidibé stressed the country’s need to increase domestic resources to ensure sustainable national AIDS responses in the coming years. “Mozambique needs to develop an innovative transitional plan for sustainable financing, which includes increased national budgets, private sector contribution and social health insurance,” said the Executive Director.
The Executive Director reiterated the commitment of the United Nations together with other key partners, including the Global Fund, PEPFAR and other bilateral partners to establishing a transparent and accountable mechanism to ensure the implementation of the third National Strategic Plan (PEN III 2010-2014) and accelerate the country’s progress towards MDG 6.
