African ministers of finance and key partners in the AIDS response meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have called for increased national investment to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
The international community has committed to meeting the 90–90–90 treatment targets, under which 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. If the 90–90–90 targets are met by 2020, ending the AIDS epidemic a decade later is achievable.
The ministers were joined at the meeting, held on 29 March, by representatives of international and regional organizations, United Nations Member States and civil society, as well as other stakeholders. Participants at the high-level event, entitled Ending AIDS by 2030: the 90–90–90 Target as a Platform for Sound Investments, Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, stressed that increased domestic investments will bring economic returns. Benefits will include strengthened health systems, long-term cost savings and the encouragement of African pharmaceutical industries.
The event took place on the sidelines of a joint conference of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa entitled Implementing Agenda 2063—Planning, Mobilizing and Financing for Development.
“South Africa leveraged the economies of scale generated by the 90–90–90 target to influence the market dynamics of HIV commodities. This includes a recent landmark price reduction of viral load tests.”
Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, South Africa
“AIDS has eroded decades of health and economic gains and placed a burden on our African countries, but antiretroviral therapy has allowed us to make major progress, and now it is time to harness more resources for 90–90–90 to save lives, costs and to stimulate the continental pharmaceutical industry.”
Nhlanhla Nene, Minister of Finance, South Africa
“If 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection should receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, then the continent must move on the trajectory of manufacturing its own drugs and equipment, as envisaged by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa.”
Mustapha Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission
“The World Health Organization is committed to working with partners for universal health access, health financing and overcoming communicable diseases, including HIV, as part of the post-2015 development agenda.”
Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization
“A healthy and productive population is a precondition for Africa’s structural transformation and sustainable development. We need to increase social investments and budgets for AIDS.”
Takyiwaa Manuh, Director of Social Development Policy Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
“We have the evidence and tools to end the epidemic, but we have to change the way we are doing business, accelerate our efforts and enhance the industrial capacity of Africa. Ending the AIDS epidemic is everyone’s business.”
Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
