Fifteen Senegalese mayors have endorsed the Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic in their cities. Since the majority of people living with HIV reside in urban areas, accelerating the AIDS response in cities could considerably contribute to reaching the HIV treatment target by 2020 and eliminating mother-to-child transmission in Senegal.
The cities that have committed to Fast-Tracking the HIV response are Dakar, Guédiawaye, Pikine, Rufisque, Ziguinchor, Saint Louis, Kaolack, Mbour, Tambacounda, Kolda, Thiès, Bignona, Bounkiling, Kaffrine and Fatick.
The mayors of these and 30 other cities participated in an event on 3 November in Dakar, when the Association of Senegalese Mayors signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft. The partnership, part of Microsoft’s CityNext programme, will help Senegalese cities innovate and better serve their citizens in areas such as health, education and transportation.
“The signing of the cooperation agreement and the Paris Declaration provides an excellent opportunity for countries and partners to accelerate efforts to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.”
Meskerem Grunitzky-Bekele, Acting Director, UNAIDS West and Central Africa Regional Support Team
"The initiative will allow Microsoft CityNext municipal governments, companies and individuals to make African cities more prosperous and sustainable."
Djibril Diallo, Senior Adviser, UNAIDS
"Reaching this ambitious target is within our reach if we commit ourselves and our resources to it."
Mohammed Dionne, Prime Minister of Senegal
“Beyond this ceremony, ending the AIDS epidemic is our shared commitment. Health is an important component of the Plan Senegal Emergent and the government’s policy in this area fully supports local communities that benefit from transferred competencies.”
Aliou Sall, President of the Association of Mayors of Senegal and Mayor of Dakar-Guédiawaye
