GENEVA 6 May 2026—As the 13th International Francophone Conference on HIV (AFRAVIH) ends, the resounding call from UNAIDS and partners is to continue to move forward together to end AIDS by 2030.  

Addressing participants Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director said, “Ending AIDS has never been only a medical challenge it has always been shaped — and determined — by inequality. Our greatest breakthroughs came when we closed gaps in access to scientific innovation, to finance, and to rights driven by political leadership, global solidarity, and a powerful community-led movement.” 

Christine Katlama, President of AFRAVIH said, “In this challenging global context, with a real fear that HIV may rebound, we must share our scientific knowledge and maintain our solidarity.”  

With global aid falling by more than 23% last year, many countries are struggling to fill the gap. Professor Nicolas Meda from Burkina Faso voiced that African countries commit too little money to health and more on defence and debt repayments. Currently only three out of 54 African countries have achieved the commitments set out in the 2001 Abuja Declaration of spending 15% of their annual national budgets on health. He said that every US$ 1 spent on health has a return on investment of US$ 3-4.  

“African health sovereignty is a public health emergency and a political and existential obligation. It is up to us to build that future now,” he said. 

Throughout the conference, the Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031 was cited as the critical  roadmap to ending AIDS. It outlines three strategic priorities: 1) Sustaining the response through country-led, resilient and future-ready systems, 2) Putting people at the centre, ensuring equity, dignity and access to services and 3) Empowering communities to lead and shape the HIV response.  

“The funding shock has been brutal but we are all invested in the fight against HIV, so we only have one choice: Move forward and not abandon our common goal of ending AIDS,” said Michel Kazatchkine, former UN Special envoy on HIV/AIDS. 

Many of the speakers in the conference were from the West and Central African region, which has made notable progress in recent years with a 55% reduction in new HIV infections across the region and a 60% decline in AIDS-related deaths between 2010 and 2024. However, the region also has much work to do accounting for 36% of all new HIV infections among children globally. In addition, one in three people living with HIV among key populations report having been refused access to health services and/or discrimination. And eight countries in the region demand parental consent for HIV testing of minors, adding barriers for young people to know their status. The region accounts for 19% of new global HIV infections among adolescents and young girls (15-24.)  

Nearly 1000 participants attended the four-day conference held at a critical moment, just ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. All Member States will come together on June 22,23 in New York to negotiate and adopt a new Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS - an integral part of efforts to end AIDS 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.

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.

Civil society organisations play a critical role in the AIDS response, including facilitating access to HIV prevention and treatment services. The Medical Research Foundation (MRF), based in Trinidad & Tobago, is a perfect example of this. With 5,202 people in care, MRF serves more than 70% of all people living with HIV in the country and has the distinction of being the largest non-governmental HIV treatment and care clinic in the English-speaking Caribbean. It is also increasingly recognised as a model demonstrating excellence in HIV care and service delivery, grounded in strong clinical outcomes, robust data systems, and patient-centered innovation.

Through its coordinated and patient-centered approach to treatment and care, MRF is helping thousands of people living with HIV achieve improved health outcomes, including viral suppression and undetectable status.

At the end of June 2025, its treatment programme reflected strong performance across the continuum of care. Of 5,146 clients retained on treatment, 5,000 received a viral load test in the past 12 months—an extraordinary 97% coverage—and 4,733 were virally suppressed, achieving the global 95% target. By September 2025, there were 5,202 individuals receiving ART at MRF, of whom 4,822 (95%) achieved viral suppression and 4,107 (79%) were undetectable. These outcomes reflect the sustained impact of adherence support, treatment counselling, and continuous clinical follow-up.

Equally notable is the decline in treatment interruptions, a key measure of programme retention. Through community engagement, adherence support, and proactive follow-up strategies, interruptions steadily decreased from 446 to 246 between 2024 and 2025.

MRF credits its dedicated staff and partners, including the Ministry of Health and PEPFAR/CDC, for the success of its treatment and care programme. According to Nyla Lyons, MRF’s Technical and Scientific Director, “MRF’s success is a powerful reminder that coordinated partnerships, patient-focused interventions, and strong monitoring systems can achieve extraordinary health outcomes for people living with HIV. We are demonstrating how data-driven, patient-centred care can turn what was once a public health challenge into a story of hope, resilience, and success.”

These achievements highlight MRF’s critical role as a bridge between government services, civil society, and international partners, ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality care for people living with HIV. The combination of high viral suppression rates, sustained retention, and declining treatment interruptions underscores a model of care that is both effective and scalable. Sustaining and building on these gains will require continued investment, commitment, and innovation, which MRF is well-positioned to lead as it continues to demonstrate excellence in HIV care and service delivery in the Caribbean.

"MRF's partnership with the Ministry of Health is an example of the kinds of collaboration between government and civil society, including communities, that are essential for achieving and sustaining public health outcomes,” said Luisa Cabal, UNAIDs Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 endorses and places strong emphasis on the important role these partnerships play in the HIV response. UNAIDS commends MRF on the work they have been doing and their impressive achievements last year."

Kingston/Geneva, 23 April 2026—UNAIDS congratulates the Bahamas on eliminating both mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B. The certifications, awarded by the World Health Organization (WHO), with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recognize sustained progress to ensure that pregnant women have access to quality antenatal care, get tested on time and start treatment early. The result has been that babies have been born free of preventable infections. 

In 2010, countries of the Americas committed to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. They endorsed a regional strategy that was later updated through PAHO’s Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections. To reach elimination targets, countries have strengthened HIV prevention and treatment within primary health care and maternal and child health services through wider screening during pregnancy, better follow-up for babies exposed to HIV and faster access to medicines and care. 

“The Bahamas are showing that eliminating mother-to-child transmission HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is possible,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “This achievement reflects political will for steady investment in primary health care and the dedication of health teams and people living with and most affected by HIV. When women can test early in pregnancy, start treatment without delay and stay in care, every child has a better chance of being born free of HIV.” 

Validation suggests that a country or territory has met the required impact and programme indicators and that it can show results are being sustained. 

Across the Caribbean, countries and territories have worked towards the global targets of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. WHO and PAHO first certified Cuba in 2015 for dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. In 2017, certifications followed for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. More recently, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have also been certified. 

UNAIDS recognizes PAHO’s leadership in driving the regional elimination agenda and supporting countries through its Elimination Platform. The platform helps bring together ministries of health, communities and partners to speed up action and sustain results. UNAIDS works closely with PAHO across the region, alongside the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, civil society and community-led organizations to strengthen services, improve surveillance and close remaining gaps so elimination gains are protected and expanded. 

The certifications come as the world pushes to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Preventing HIV infections among children remains a global priority. Between 2010 and 2024 new HIV infections among children were reduced by 62% from 310 000 in 2010 to 120 000 in 2024. 

UNAIDS calls for continued investment to protect these gains. That means stronger, integrated maternal, newborn and child health services; reliable access to quality-assured medicines, diagnostics and supplies; action to tackle stigma and discrimination; and support for community-led responses that help women and families stay connected to care. 

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.

A new initiative launched by UNAIDS in Brazil uses the popularity of funk music among young people to promote HIV prevention. Called Cover It (Proibidão Protegidão in Brazilian Portuguese), the campaign uses colourful illustrations with messages about condom use and other HIV prevention methods that are displayed when a selected group of songs play on Spotify.  

The campaign was designed to reach young people, especially Gen Z, directly through their media consumption channels. Young people are both the prime listeners of Brazilian funk music as well as one of the groups most affected by HIV. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, young people aged between 15 to 29 accounted for 49% of all new HIV diagnosis in the country in 2024.  

These data are consistent with the results of a survey conducted by the Brazilian Statistic Institute in 2024, which showed that in Brazil the percentage of young people under the age of 18 who reported using condoms during sexual intercourse dropped from 73% in 2009 to 57% in 2024. 

Innovation in format: from entertainment to prevention 

The campaign uses Spotify Canvas—a tool featuring eight-second looping videos that accompany track playback—as a novel media space. Hits by artists such as MC Livinho, MC Mari, and MC Pikachu had their original visuals replaced with animations promoting condom use. Combined, these tracks reach approximately 300 million views on the platform, significantly increasing the potential to reach adolescents and young people. 

The choice of funk as an awareness platform reflects the genre’s massive reach among Gen Z. By occupying the visual space of “proibidão funk” (forbidden funk) tracks, UNAIDS introduces protection into a context where sexuality is already openly discussed, but access to information that promotes autonomy and informed prevention choices is often overlooked.  

“Adapting language and promoting HIV prevention communication based on autonomy and choice is part of the necessary shift toward an equitable HIV response that meets the specific needs of different groups—especially young people, who continue to be the most affected by new HIV infections,” says Thainá Kedzierski, UNAIDS Brazil Communication and Advocacy Officer. 

Some of the tracks featured in the campaign include “Flauta,” by MC Mari, “Lá no Meu Barraco,” by MC Pikachu and “Fazer Falta,” by MC Livinho. You can access the UNAIDS Brazil Spotify playlist here with the full list of songs and artists participating in the initiative. 

In Brazil,the Unified Health System (SUS) offers a range of HIV prevention methods including free access to PrEP, PEP, male and female condoms, lubricants, HIV self-testing, as well as antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV.