In June, earthquakes in Venezuela left many people living with HIV facing urgent questions. Were pharmacies and health facilities still operating? Where could they collect their medicines? How could they continue their care? At the Venezuelan Network of People Living with HIV (RVG+), the phone started ringing as people sought information and support.

“There was a lot of fear because people did not know where to go, what to do or who to call to find out how to continue receiving care,” said Alfredo Mendieta, HIV community monitoring project officer at RVG+, a Venezuelan civil society network and advocacy group that supports people living with HIV.

RVG+ began identifying what each person needed and connecting them with its teams on the ground, who helped reconnect them with services. According to the organization, 90% of the people who approached the network were linked back to health services.

Across the border in Colombia, community organizations faced similar challenges after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in August. Fundación Ancla, Red Somos and Fundamor combined their efforts and strengthened word-of-mouth outreach to find people who needed treatment in Manizales, Pereira, Cali and Chocó, some of the country's most affected regions.

“In a context of uncertainty, people needed answers for the here and now,” said Aharón Andrés Cardona, founder and director of Fundación Ancla. While regular service points were being restored, the organizations focused on identifying people and arranging access to medicines. According to Cardona, “around 70% of the people who approached them seeking medicines were able to access treatment through the civil society-led response.”

In both neighboring countries, community response helped support people while services gradually recovered. They knew where to find those who needed assistance. Authorities knew they needed to restore and maintain access to care as soon as possible. UNAIDS helped connect the different parts of the response, organizing information gathered through the calls to identify priorities and emerging needs, facilitating links between community-led services and local health authorities, and mobilizing resources to keep phone lines open and help people travel from temporary camps to health facilities.

The experience in Venezuela also contributed to the development of a simple guidance for protecting continuity of HIV care during emergencies and disasters. Two months later, UNAIDS helped adapt and update this guidance to the Colombian context, sharing it with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and community organizations, including Fundación Ancla.

“Communities know their people and their neighborhoods. They know where the needs are, and they’re often the first place that people turn to when they need support,” said Luisa Cabal, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “When emergencies happen, it is imperative to support strong community leadership and coordination with authorities. This can make all the difference in ensuring that no one is left behind or disconnected from the care they need.”

The experience highlights a broader lesson that extends beyond Colombia and Venezuela. By supporting coordination among local actors when emergencies disrupt daily life, UNAIDS contributes not only to maintaining continuity of care for people in vulnerable situations, but also to strengthening preparedness for future health emergencies, showing that lessons from the HIV response continue to inform broader efforts to build resilient, people-centered health systems. 

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, taking place in New York from 18 to 28 September, will once again convene world leaders to revitalize global cooperation, give a critical push to the Sustainable Development Goals and drive collective action for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. 

At the UN General Assembly, UNAIDS will call on countries to turn the political commitments they made at the June High-Level Meeting on AIDS (HLM) into results. UNGA81 is a critical milestone for sustaining momentum from the HLM through to World AIDS Day 2026 – and beyond. 

UNGA81 takes place at a moment of significant transition in the multilateral system with the impending election of a new UN Secretary-General and ongoing discussions on UN reform – including future evolutions to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV.

The overall objective for the week is to secure high-level political support for the future of UNAIDS while positioning the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS as an indispensable partner for global health, the fight against inequalities, health security and sustainability and to highlight it as an example of success in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. 

UNGA81 offers a unique platform for positioning HIV not as a standalone issue, but as part of the solution to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including: 1) pandemic preparedness, 2) equitable access to medicines, 3) health sovereignty, 4) inequalities, 5) the need to protect community leadership, service delivery and funding and 6) building sustainable health systems capable of delivering quality, mainstream healthcare on once-specialized issues, such as HIV.  
 
Three Political Asks 

At UNGA81, UNAIDS will call on world leaders and ministers to: 

1. Reflect the targets of the Political Declaration in national plans, ensure adequate financing is available, laws are enabling and accountability is transparent so results may be measured.
2. Protect HIV financing and continuity of services, especially prevention, community-led services and support for populations most exposed to HIV (noting the majority of budget cuts in the last 12 months have adversely impacted these efforts).
3. Back a transformed and strong United Nations Programme on AIDS, recognizing its essential and unique contributions to the global AIDS response and that its country and regional support are required to turn political commitments into results. 

EVENTS 

Tuesday 22 September
13:00–16:00
OAFLAD: A Legacy of Leadership – Delivering for Women and Girls

In 2027, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) will commemorate its 25th Anniversary, marking a quarter-century of visionary leadership, continental solidarity, and transformative advocacy for the health and well-being of African women, children, and young people. This high-level side event will provide an opportunity to reflect on OAFLAD's remarkable journey, celebrate its enduring partnerships, and articulate a shared vision for the organization's next chapter.

Venue: Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
 
Wednesday 23 September
08:00–10:00
African Leadership & Regional Production of Frontier AIDS and other Pandemic Medicines

A high-level event co-organized by UNAIDS, African Medicines Agency, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, Perry World House-University of Pennsylvania, Global Council on AIDS, Inequality, and Pandemics, on the sidelines of the 2026 UN General Assembly to advance one of the most consequential goals of the African health sovereignty agenda: dramatically expanding the production of cutting-edge pandemic medicines on the African continent, for the African continent.

Venue: Penn Club
 
10:30–12:30
High-Level Event on “International Panel on Inequality: Addressing the Global Inequality Crisis”

This high-level side event is convened by Brazil, Norway, South Africa and Spain. It will bring together Heads of State and Government, Ministers and leaders of International Organizations, on the need to address the global inequality crisis, an issue of great concern for Member States and the UN.

The event shall provide an opportunity to exchange views and offer inputs on the proposed international panel, and build broad international political support for its establishment. An IPI would be a body anchored in neutral, science-based and objective analysis, situated within the multilateral system. The event will discuss how an IPI could work effectively and lay the groundwork for a future UN resolution. 

Webcast link 

Venue: Conference Room 2, UNHQ
 
14:30–15:30
NGIC panel 3 – debt, development and future of emerging economies

For many developing and emerging economies, the debate about the future international order is not abstract. It is experienced through debt-service payments, restricted fiscal space, inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, food insecurity and the enormous financing requirements of development and climate adaptation.

Venue: Harvard Club
 
Thursday 24 September
08:00–09:30
High-Level Breakfast Side Event and Round-Table Discussion "From Forerunner to Future-Maker: A transformed Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS for a Sustainable Global HIV Response" 

Co-hosted by the Governments of Botswana, the Netherlands, and UNAIDSThe objective of this event is to showcase how a transformed Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - as part of the UN80 reforms - remains fit for purpose to mobilize political and financial support and accountability for the global HIV response.

Venue: Labouisse Hall, 3 UN Plaza
 
Friday 25 September
 
15:00–17:00
High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR) – thematic panel 2

Equitable access through sustainability and predictability: capacities and financing for strengthened pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Venue: UNHQ
UN Web TV

JOHANNESBURG/GABORONE/BEIJING/GENEVA 16 September 2026—The Southern African Development Community (SADC), UNAIDS, the Government of China and the Global Health Innovation Institute (GHII) have agreed to advance collaboration on regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, following a joint visit to production facilities in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa.

The delegation assessed existing capabilities in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, biotechnology, genomics and diagnostics, and identified priority areas to help Southern African countries expand domestic production of quality-assured medicines and health technologies.

The collaboration aims to reduce reliance on imports, strengthen health security and improve more timely access to essential health products across the region. Partnering with China offers an opportunity to connect technology, expertise, investment and manufacturing capabilities with this growing regional capacity.

“This exchange was about moving from ambition to practical action,” said Eva Kiwango, Director and Representative, UNAIDS Office in China. “The Southern African Development Community has the capacity to expand regional manufacturing and improve access to essential HIV and other health products, but this will require sustained investment, alignment of regulatory frameworks, technology transfer, skills development and cultivating strategic multilateral partnerships and pioneering innovative financing.”

The collaboration aligns with the United Nations’ Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which calls for greater health sovereignty and strengthened cooperation to advance local and regional production of HIV and health technologies as part of efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It also comes at an important moment following UN Day for South-South Cooperation.

“This strategic exchange has strengthened mutual understanding and identified concrete opportunities for cooperation between China and Southern Africa. By leveraging complementary strengths in policy, technology, manufacturing and market development, we can advance local pharmaceutical production, enhance health security, and support sustainable access to quality health products across the region.” Official from National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA), China.

During the exchange, key priorities that were identified for cooperation included developing a regional list of essential HIV and sexual and reproductive health commodities, strengthening demand forecasting and pooled procurement and creating more predictable markets for African manufacturers.

The partners agreed to advance technology transfer, skills development and investment opportunities to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity while supporting regulatory systems to enable quality-assured production.

“This visit highlighted significant opportunities for China-Southern Africa cooperation in pharmaceutical development. By combining our respective strengths in manufacturing, innovation, and market development, we can support strengthening local production capacity, improve access to quality medicines, and contribute to better health outcomes for the people across Southern Africa,” said Ms. Xiaoxia An, CEO, Desano Pharmaceutical Group

More than half of the people living with HIV who are not receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment are in sub-Saharan Africa. For UNAIDS, expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region is about building resilient health systems and ensuring that people are not left behind or forced to wait for access to the innovations that can save their lives or safeguard their health.  

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.

When Victor* came to Club Eney in Kyiv, a community-led organization supporting people affected by HIV and other vulnerable communities, he was distressed and exhausted. He had lost his job, could no longer afford medical consultations or medicines, and was frightened by worsening health problems. 

The peer-consultant told him that help was available, and referred Victor for a free medical consultation, helping him obtain the medicines he needed. 

Victor’s experience is familiar to community workers across Ukraine. War and displacement are placing people under multiple pressures at once - loss of income, disrupted access to health care, transport difficulties and the daily struggle to meet basic needs. In 2026, an estimated 10.8 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance, while 3.7 million remain internally displaced, many for years. 

For people affected by HIV, these pressures can make it much harder to continue treatment and stay connected to care. 

As the full-scale war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year, repeated attacks are damaging health facilities and critical infrastructure and disrupting essential services. Power outages, damaged transport links and prolonged displacement are adding to the barriers people face in accessing HIV and other health services. 

To help address these challenges, UNAIDS is expanding it’s Humanitarian Emergency Programme in Ukraine, together with UNODC and with more than US$6 million with support from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

“Addressing HIV remains a priority for the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and our partnership with UNAIDS is an important part of this work, both in Ukraine and globally,” said Robert Dekker, Head of the Political Section at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine. “The Netherlands is currently UNAIDS’ largest donor. Each year through 2029, our country will provide €18.2 million to support UNAIDS programmes worldwide.”  

Working through 15 Ukrainian community-based organizations across 13 regions, particularly frontline areas and regions hosting large numbers of internally displaced people, the programme links humanitarian assistance with access to HIV treatment and other health services, mental health and psychosocial support, temporary accommodation and essential social services. 

“Those of us working on the ground, directly with communities, understand well what people need and what kind of support can genuinely make a difference in their lives. And this is exactly what the funding is directed towards,” said Alla Khodak, Chair of the Board of 100% Life, Odesa, an organization that supports people living with HIV. “People’s needs in Odesa, Dnipro and Kharkiv are different, and the support provided through the Humanitarian Emergency Programme reflects those differences. It is adapted to the realities of each region. This is both important and valuable.” 

The programme aims to help 40,000 people maintain or regain access to life-saving HIV services, provide humanitarian assistance to 60,000 people and reach 20,000 people with mental health and psychosocial support. 

“This programme builds on the resilience that communities, health workers and partners across Ukraine have demonstrated throughout the war, continuing to provide vital support to people even in the most difficult circumstances,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

Beyond meeting immediate humanitarian needs, the programme will also strengthen the community systems and partnerships at local level that have helped sustain HIV treatment, care and other essential services throughout the war. 

“We are deeply grateful to the Government and people of the Netherlands for this support. We are equally grateful to our Ukrainian organizations working alongside people every day and who understand the needs of their communities best,” said Gabriela Ionașcu, Director of the UNAIDS Country Office in Ukraine. “From the outset, this programme has been built around the real needs of people. Our priority is to ensure that international support translates into practical assistance where it is needed most.” 

As another winter approaches and pressure on health, social services and civilians continues, keeping people connected to the care and assistance they need is more critical than ever. 

*Name changed for confidentiality

GENEVA, 16 September 2026—UNAIDS welcomes the Government of Fiji’s decision to declare HIV a national crisis and the measures announced by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, to accelerate the country’s HIV response.

Fiji is facing one of the sharpest increases in new HIV infections globally. UNAIDS estimates that new infections rose 12-fold between 2010 and 2025. An estimated 9,100 people were living with HIV in 2025, only 39% knew their HIV status and just 22% were accessing antiretroviral treatment.

“Fiji has recognized the urgency of the moment and is stepping up its response,” said the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima. “It is also a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over. HIV epidemics can change quickly, and countries need health and community systems that are ready to respond urgently.” 

The decision brings the urgency needed to ramp up the response to a higher level across government and society. A Cabinet subcommittee has been established to address policy and implementation barriers and accelerate action. 

Among cases with a known mode of transmission, over half were linked to sexual transmission and more than 42% to injecting drug use. UNAIDS welcomes plans to introduce a needle and syringe programme, with legislative amendments expected to go before Parliament. 

The Government has also announced expanded HIV prevention, testing and treatment, including wider access to medicine to prevent HIV (PrEP), including long-acting prevention options such as twice-yearly injections, stronger community engagement and action against stigma and discrimination.

Communities are already an essential part of the HIV response in Fiji. Community organizations and peer outreach workers are connecting people to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, countering misinformation and stigma, and reaching people who may not use formal health services.

Fiji’s nationally led response is supported by regional and international partners. UNAIDS Joint Programme supports Fiji in providing policy advice and helps connect government, communities and partners, while other development partners contribute funding, commodities and technical expertise.

“The national crisis declaration is a call for action, not fear. HIV is not transmitted through everyday contact, and people on effective treatment with an undetectable viral load do not sexually transmit HIV,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “Fiji still has an opportunity to change the course of this epidemic. Stronger cooperation across the Pacific and sustained international solidarity can reinforce the national effort and help accelerate action.”

Pacific countries are at different stages of their HIV epidemics, but the region is closely connected through travel, education, employment and family ties. Access to combination HIV prevention and treatment, strong surveillance, community-led responses and shared expertise can help countries recognise changes early and respond quickly.

UNAIDS will continue working with Fiji and countries across the Pacific, alongside communities and development partners, to strengthen national responses and regional cooperation.

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.