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GENEVA, 1 February 2025— The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is urging for a continuation of all essential HIV services while the United States pauses its funding for foreign aid.   

On 29 January, UNAIDS welcomed the news that United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had approved an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver,” allowing people to continue accessing lifesaving HIV treatment funded by the U.S. in 55 countries worldwide. More than 20 million people - two-thirds of all people living with HIV accessing HIV treatment globally - are directly supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

While continuity of HIV treatment is essential, services must continue to be monitored, and oversight provided for quality. Other critical HIV services for people, especially marginalized people including children, women, and key populations, must continue. Last year, PEPFAR provided over 83.8 million people with critical HIV testing services; reached 2.3 million adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention services; 6.6 million orphans, vulnerable children, and their caregivers received HIV care and support; and 2.5 million people were newly enrolled on pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection.

Since PEPFAR was created, the United States has been steadfast in its leadership in the fight against HIV. The U.S. has saved millions of lives through its programmes, particularly in the countries most affected by HIV. PEPFAR has had remarkable results in stopping new infections and expanding access to HIV treatment – and this must continue.

Globally, there are 1.3 million people that are newly infected with HIV every year, 3,500 every day. Young women and girls in Africa are at alarming high risk of HIV, where 3,100 young women and girls aged 15 to 24 years become infected with HIV every week and at least half of all people from key populations are not being reached with prevention services.

Pregnant women in high HIV prevalent areas must be tested for HIV to determine whether they are living with HIV so they can protect their baby by taking antiretroviral therapy prior to birth. As a result, babies will be born HIV-free. 

Many organizations providing services for people living with HIV that are funded, or partly funded, by PEPFAR have reported they will shut their doors due to the funding pause with lack of clarity and great uncertainty about the future. UNAIDS is evaluating the impact and will provide routine and real-time updates to share the latest global and country information, data, guidance, and references.

“PEPFAR gave us hope and now the executive order is shattering the very hope it offered for all people living with HIV and our families.  As communities we are in shock with the continued closure of clinics. We resolutely demand that all our governments come in haste to fill the gap in human resources needed at the moment to ensure sustainability of HIV service delivery,” said Flavia Kyomukama, Executive Director at National Forum of People Living with HIV Network Uganda (NAFOPHANU).

Zimbabwe`s umbrella network of people living with HIV (ZNNP+) stated that the implementation of stop work orders has led to significant fears, including reduced access to essential services, loss of community trust and long-term health outcomes.

 As the waiver is effective for a review period of all U.S. foreign development assistance, future coverage of HIV services - including for treatment - remains unclear and the lives of the millions of people supported by PEPFAR are in jeopardy and could be at stake.

Anele Yawa, General Secretary for the Treatment Action Campaign is worried. "The PEPFAR-fund freeze will take South Africa and the world back in terms of the gains we have made in our response to HIV,” he said. "We are asking ourselves how are we going to cope in the next three months as people are going to be left behind in terms of prevention, treatment and care."

At a moment when the world can finally get the upper hand on one of the world’s deadliest pandemics, aided by new long-acting HIV prevention and treatment medicines coming to market this year, UNAIDS urges the U.S. to continue its unparalleled leadership and accelerate, not diminish, efforts to end AIDS.

UNAIDS looks forward to partnering with the United States, other donors and countries most affected by HIV to ensure a robust and sustainable response to HIV and to achieve our collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

GENEVA, 29 January 2025— The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has approved an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver”, which will allow people to continue accessing HIV treatment funded by the US across 55 countries worldwide. More than 20 million people living with HIV, representing two-thirds of all people living with HIV receiving treatment globally, are directly supported by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) - the world’s leading HIV initiative.

“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US government which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima. “This urgent decision recognizes PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”

In recent days, the US Department of State announced an immediate 90-day funding pause for all foreign assistance, including for funding and services supported by PEPFAR. The executive order announcing a “90-day pause in United States foreign development assistance for assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy” was one of the first major foreign policy decisions of the new administration. This waiver approves the continuation or resumption of “life-saving humanitarian assistance” which applies to core life-saving medicine and medical services, including HIV treatment, as well as to supplies necessary to deliver such assistance.

UNAIDS will continue efforts to ensure that all people living with or affected by HIV are served and that other key components of PEPFAR’s life-saving efforts, including service delivery and services for HIV prevention, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children are continued.

UNAIDS is serving in its essential role to mobilize and convene partners, governments, and communities across the globe at the country level to assess and mitigate the impact of the pause on the continuity of essential HIV services.   

UNAIDS has encouraged President Donald J. Trump to prioritize the U.S. Government’s leadership in the global HIV response to achieve the shared goal of ending AIDS.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

GENEVA/LUSAKA, 30 January 2025—Zambian football star Racheal Kundananji has been appointed as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador to champion the fight to end AIDS as a public health threat in Zambia.

In her new role, Ms Kundananji will work with UNAIDS to champion HIV prevention, advocate for girls’ education to help reduce new HIV infections and sexually transmitted infections. She will also highlight the importance of preventing teenage pregnancy and advocate for an increase in HIV testing and access to health services for young people. 

“I am so happy to be collaborating with UNAIDS to end AIDS as a public health threat in my country Zambia,” said Ms Kundananji. “Achieving this will require a collective effort, including ensuring that all young people in Zambia, particularly girls, remain in secondary education to reduce their risk of HIV infection and provide them with better economic opportunities.” 

Ms Kundananji is already using her platform to drive change. She founded the Racheal Kundananji Legacy Foundation to harness the power of sport to address gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and child marriage, demonstrating her deep commitment to empowering women and girls and tackling gender inequality.  

“Ms Kundananji shares UNAIDS’ vision of ending AIDS as public health threat in Zambia by 2030,” said Isaac Ahemesah, UNAIDS Country Director for Zambia. “That world is possible. Leaders must ensure that girls stay in school and increase political and financial support to end the AIDS epidemic, by stopping new HIV infections and ensuring that everyone who needs treatment for HIV has access.” 

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Zambia, Ms. Beatrice Mutali, praised Ms Kundananji’s dedication to advancing and promoting HIV awareness, testing, prevention and the  Education Plus Initiative, which promotes girls’ school attendance. She also called for gender equality in sports, emphasizing the need for equal pay for equal work for women and men in all fields.

Ms Kundananji shattered the global women’s football transfer record, becoming the most expensive player in the history of women’s football. She is the first African footballer - male or female - to break the world transfer record. Now playing for Bay FC, an American professional women's soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she competes in the prestigious National Women's Soccer League, solidifying her place as a trailblazer on the global football stage. 

Ms Kundananji has represented the Zambian National team since 2018 at the African Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Olympic qualifiers. Ms Kundananji has also played for Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenino among others.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

GENEVA, 22 January 2025—UNAIDS congratulates President Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States of America has the opportunity to accelerate the global HIV response and end AIDS by 2030,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. 

During President Trump’s first administration, he demonstrated strong leadership in the fight against AIDS by launching the groundbreaking initiative Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US and reaffirming the United States of America's steadfast commitment to the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). 

For more than two decades, the United States Government has led in the global HIV response, saving more than 26 million lives. The country's unwavering commitment to addressing HIV stands as a global gold standard of leadership.

Since the start of the AIDS pandemic, innovations led by the United States in HIV prevention and treatment technologies have saved millions of lives around the world.

Today, we are on the brink of ending AIDS thanks to advances in developing long-acting medicines which both prevent and treat HIV. These new medicines give us a real shot at ending AIDS with the United States of America at the forefront. UNAIDS is poised and ready to work side by side with the new Administration to save millions of lives by bringing these new medicines swiftly to scale.

The United States Government’s partnership with UNAIDS remains an indispensable force for progress and accountability in the global HIV response. UNAIDS looks forward to further strengthening its collaboration with the United States to achieve our shared goal of ending AIDS.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Grabbing his helmet, Hadi Timotius gets in the back of his colleague’s scooter to pay a routine visit to a woman who is taking her HIV treatment again. Hadi oversees the ‘Lost and Link’ initiative at JIP, a national network of people living with HIV in Indonesia.

UNAIDS urges speed and compassion urging pharmaceutical companies to enable access to new, life-saving medicines

DAVOS/GENEVA, 21 January 2025—Today, at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has warned that new long-acting HIV prevention – and potentially treatment – medicines can help usher in the end of AIDS if corporate and political leaders move quickly and urgently to prioritise access for all low and middle-income countries.

Lenacapavir, produced by Gilead Sciences, has proved to be more than 95% effective in preventing HIV with just two doses a year and the company is now conducting trials of once-yearly shots. ViiV Healthcare has the injectable medicine Cabotegravir, administered once every two months to prevent HIV, which is already being used in some countries. Month-long vaginal rings are also in use and longer acting pills and vaginal rings are being trialled.

“These new technologies offer us a real shot at ending AIDS by 2030,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. “But it comes with a caveat—only if pharmaceutical companies, governments, international partners and civil society unite around an HIV prevention and treatment revolution, can we use these medicines to their full potential and end AIDS much sooner than we previously thought.”

The breakthrough long-acting medicines could stem new HIV infections and are already being used to suppress the virus for some people living with HIV. But their potential can’t be unlocked unless everyone, everywhere who could benefit has access.

UNAIDS is urging pharmaceutical companies to move faster and ensure “affordable pricing and generic competition” in the market for the new HIV medicines. “We have no problem with profit, but we will not stand for profiteering,” said Ms Byanyima.

Gilead and ViiV have licensed generics manufacturing to a number of countries, which is to be applauded, but they are moving too slowly. Generics aren’t expected until next year- and many countries have been left out. Nearly all of Latin America, a region of rising HIV infections, has been excluded. In addition, to provide for the whole world, Gilead has licensed just six companies to make generic versions of the medicine – with no producer in sub-Saharan Africa. To make these medicines widely available and affordable, more generic production is needed.

Gilead has not announced a price for lenacapavir for prevention. However, used as treatment in the United States, the medicine can cost around US$ 40 000 per year per person. One study suggests that, if 10 million people are reached, generics could cost just $40 per person per year, a thousand times less.

At the end of 2023 only 3.5 million people are using pre-exposure prophylaxis. UNAIDS goal is to reach 10 million with preventative HIV medicine by the end of 2025. “This is possible, said Ms Byanyima, “But only if we have ambition. Look at injectable contraceptives—72 million women around the world accessed them in 2022. Look at COVID-19 vaccines in rich countries – 4.5 billion people were vaccinated in a year. Why can we not have the same ambition for HIV? We did it for HIV treatment and we can do it for prevention. We have done it before – and we can do it again.”

Today, 30 million of the 40 million people living with HIV are now on treatment—a huge, but long-awaited achievement which destroyed families and cost far too many lives.

While these new medicines are not a cure or a vaccine, they could halt the HIV pandemic.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) recently announced a deal to get lenacapavir to 2 million people over the next three years. Which is a good start but not ambitious enough.

"Science has delivered a miraculous new tool: medicines that prevent HIV infection with injections just twice a year and which could work for treatment too,” said Ms Byanyima. “We must do better this time. Either companies step up, or governments step in. This is our shot to end AIDS – and we cannot afford to miss it."

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

What does the HIV response look like beyond the 2030 targets to end AIDS? For the past year, UNAIDS has been working with partners and over 30 countries to develop country-led roadmaps for the sustainability of HIV prevention, treatment and care services far into the future.

Part of the sustainability journey includes reaching the global goal of ending AIDS in the next five years. According to a recent World Bank report, despite an early COVID-19 spending peak, per capita government health spending has steadily declined in low- and lower middle-income countries. Urgent action is needed in many countries to ensure reaching the health Sustainable Development Goals remains possible by 2030.

UNAIDS’s new sustainability approach, developed jointly with the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) in early 2024, focuses on five core areas. These are political leadership and commitment; enabling laws and policies; sustainable and equitable financing; science-driven, effective and high-impact HIV services and solutions; and systems built to deliver. The specific methods look different in each country, but all have equity and communities at the center.

“A multi-sectoral approach remains critical to the HIV response particularly in this last mile as we accelerate prevention and close gaps that require us to address the complex inequalities that persist,” said Anne Githuku-Shongwe at UNAIDS.  

As part of this initiative, UNAIDS and partners are supporting countries to create and implement sustainability roadmaps. The roadmaps identify key changes countries can take to shift towards self-reliant, efficient and impactful HIV responses both in the short- and long-term.

Representatives from 22 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Dominican Republic gathered recently in Johannesburg, South Africa to hone their roadmaps during a workshop hosted in October by The South African National AIDS Council in collaboration with UNAIDS, PEPFAR and the GF.

“While it is valuable that we come together to learn and share insights, it is crucial to recognize the level of responsibility each of us carries in our respective countries. We are not here simply to exchange ideas, but to take on a leadership role in driving meaningful change,” said Thembisile Xulu  of the South African National AIDS Council as she addressed the participants.

During the workshop, countries shared experiences and learned from each other about their individual sustainability journeys. In addition, countries agreed to establish a virtual peer learning network to facilitate future cross-border partnerships and share successes and challenges in moving towards sustainability. Some of the findings so far along the journey include the necessity of high-level political support, coordinated multi-sectoral efforts and diversified funding sources.

Furthermore, countries recommended that development partners craft consistent messages about their ongoing commitment levels to fund HIV and health services. The need for transparent, responsible and inclusive conversations was emphasized by all in Johannesburg when discussing the transition from donor financed to country financed responses.

“The fiscal space for HIV is tightening, and we need to be pragmatic as we work to sustain the response with a focus on simplification and efficiency,” said Sarah Dominis from the U.S. State Department Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, Office of Financial and Programmatic Stability. “The future HIV response will be led by country governments in partnership with community and private sector partners. PEPFAR is not going away but will focus on supporting countries to sustain the HIV response, aligning to the vision they have committed to in their roadmaps.”

As the roadmaps roll out publicly, governments are recognizing the role of communities in the long-term response. For example, Tanzania’s roadmap identifies that community-led organizations play a pivotal role in community mobilisation, facilitating social and behaviour change, addressing social/cultural norms, primary HIV prevention interventions, adherence to antiretroviral treatment and retention in care. As a result, the roadmap lists actions to bolster communities, such as scaling up the network of community health workers and reinforcing community-led monitoring programs.

“When we talk about HIV sustainability we need to go back to the basics. It's about planning around the lives of PLHIV. Communities are always at the centre of service delivery, demand creation and monitoring. There is the opportunity for us all to tap into the infrastructure and willingness of communities to provide treatment and prevention services - through strong sustainable partnerships,” said Sibongile Nkosi from The Global Network of People Living with HIV.

This past World AIDS Day, ten countries launched their sustainability roadmaps, and more will follow in early 2025. To follow the process, visit: https://sustainability.unaids.org/

Progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat has been strongest in the countries and regions with sufficient investments in their HIV responses, especially in countries from eastern and southern Africa. However, a critical part of this success lies in understanding where resources are being allocated and ensuring that investments are directed towards the most impactful interventions.

“HIV financial data is essential for decision-making”, said Jaime Atienza, Director of Equitable Finance at UNAIDS. “This is especially important when we can see constraints, now and around the corner.”

To reflect on the current use and future potential of HIV financial data, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria brought together representatives from 10 African countries to Cape Town, South Africa. During the event, countries shared how they are using HIV financial data to transform their national HIV responses.

In the case of Kenya, for example, the 2022 National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) revealed that approximately 84% of the funds for care and treatment programmes came from external sources. This heavy reliance on external funding prompted the development of a cabinet advisory note on local commodity manufacturing, aimed at addressing commodity security risks. In response, the Office of the Presidency issued a statement on Worlds AIDS day 2022 directing that the government would support the pharmaceutical sector to strengthen its local manufacturing capacity and review relevant regulations and tax policies to create an enabling environment.

In Mozambique another NASA study showed how the country spent 26% less on HIV treatment than the National Strategic Plan required, while still surpassing the antiretroviral (ART) coverage target. ART unit costs have fallen from US$ 208 in 2017 to US$ 137 in 2022—well below most countries in the region. Economies of scale and differentiated service delivery likely contributed to this outcome. “We are using this data to inform multi-sectoral plans and state budgets” said Francisco Mbofana, Executive Secretary of Mozambique's National AIDS Council.  

HIV financial data is also seen by countries as an effective tool for mobilizing resources. Ethiopia’s NASA and National Health Accounts (NHA) informed a Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy. The Strategy aims to boost domestic investment from US$ 27.9 million in 2020 to US$ 68.5 million by 2025 through government revenues, AIDS fund(s), targeted mainstreaming, community care coalitions, and earmarked taxes. In addition, South Africa demonstrated to the Global Fund that of the US$ 6.3 billion the government committed to invest in HIV from 2022-2025, US$ 6.2 billion (98.99%) is likely to be realized. This, in turn, unlocks the US$ 92.7 million co-financing incentive from the Global Fund grant for 2025-2028.

Financial data has also stressed the major underinvestment in HIV prevention. “The de-prioritization of HIV prevention is among the top sustainability threats,” said Thembisile Xulu, Chief Executive Officer of the South African National AIDS Council. While prevention will require a third (32.8%) of total HIV resources by 2025, NASA data shows current HIV prevention spending is at 9.4% in Kenya, 9% in Namibia, 11% in South Africa, and 13% in Uganda.

Nonetheless, several strategies to boost HIV prevention investments are being developed following evidence provided by HIV financial data. Kenya used its NASA data to develop guidelines for harnessing resources from construction projects to support HIV prevention. Zimbabwe’s resource tracking influenced a new policy to implement social contracting with a least one civil society organization per province, to channel domestic resources to community-led HIV responses. Zimbabwe has committed to invest 21% of domestic funds in HIV prevention, with a focus on key populations.

In the current environment of dwindling resources for HIV—2023 recorded the lowest amount of resources available for HIV in low-and-middle income countries in a decade—strengthening HIV resource tracking is key to ensure effective and sustainable HIV responses. “We need to plan for sustainability,” said Nertila Tavanxhi, Senior Manager for Health Financing Country Support at the Global Fund. “To do this, we really need to understand who is funding what, where and whom. This will show us the gaps, and where we must focus.”

“We are in a time of transformations towards sustainability,” said Mr Azcona. The National HIV Response Sustainability Roadmaps are an essential part of the work that the Global Fund, UNAIDS, PEFPAR and country partners are undergoing in 2024 and 2025. “This makes it even more important to have the right data to make the best possible choices on what these transformations must be.” 

Marouane Abouzid, a 25-year-old from Casablanca, grew up in an environment where social challenges and gender stereotypes were pervasive. However, his perspective changed the day he joined "The Ball is Your Protection" program, an initiative by Tibu Africa in partnership with UNAIDS, which uses sports to raise awareness about HIV, gender equality, and gender-based violence. 

Before joining the program, Marouane had limited knowledge about HIV and gender equality. “The training on HIV awareness led by UNAIDS and Tibu Africa was a transformative experience,” he says. “It equipped me with essential skills like effective communication and active listening.” Thanks to the program, Marouane discovered how sports can be a powerful tool to engage young people on often-overlooked topics, such as HIV prevention and breaking gender stereotypes. 

Now, trained to be a change ambassador in his community, Marouane leads sports activities and participates in educational sessions, becoming a role model for his peers. “I talk openly about what I’ve learned. I encourage my friends to get tested for HIV and respect the rights of others,” he shares. 

For Marouane, this program was more than just training. “Today, I feel ready to take action and share what I’ve learned with my community,” he says. 

During the closing ceremony of the "The Ball is Your Protection” project, Marouane facilitated workshops and sports activities with other young participants. “I saw how sports could become a tool for awareness and social mobilization,” he explains. These activities created a safe space for young people to discuss issues related to HIV and gender equality, free from societal judgment. 

In Morocco, approximately 23,000 people live with HIV, nearly 50% of whom are women. Although the prevalence rate is relatively low, vulnerable groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs are particularly at risk. “Before, I thought HIV didn’t have a real impact on those around me. Now, I understand that we all have a role to play,” Marouane adds. 

Marouane is not alone on this journey. Assia Ezzahraoui, 25, a participant in Tibu Africa’s Sports Vocational School program, reflects: “HIV awareness was a profoundly enriching experience. It gave me new insights into symptoms, prevention methods, and available treatments.” For Assia, taking part in the educational event deepened her understanding of HIV and reinforced the importance of protecting her health and that of those around her. 

“I want to thank everyone who contributed to this initiative. Their commitment to young athletes in Morocco is truly inspiring,” says Assia, emphasizing the value of such events in educating youth about HIV. 

Thanks to initiatives like "The Ball is Your Protection," young people like Marouane and Assia are playing an active role in addressing gender inequalities and HIV-related stigma. These young leaders are helping to build a healthier and more equitable future, proving that change can start with something as simple as a ball.