On 17 May, UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a panel discussion on the progress made and challenges in eliminating new HIV infections among children and ensuring the health and well-being of mothers. UNAIDS and WHO joined together at the Women Deliver conference, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, to amplify the message that access to HIV services and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights are inextricably linked.
The session highlighted the successes to date of the global HIV response for women and children, including the 77% coverage of pregnant women living with HIV in 2014 receiving antiretroviral medicines to stop transmission of HIV to their child, an increase from the 37% coverage in 2009. The right of women to have children, the right to information on how to protect themselves from HIV and the right to HIV treatment were reinforced by the panellists. How to provide HIV treatment as part of the Sustainable Development Goals and in the context of the changing political and funding environments affecting donor priorities was also discussed.
The Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Sheila Tlou, opened the panel discussion, which was moderated by Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox spoke at the event, which also featured Annah Sango, a young mother and youth activist living with HIV, Kenly Sikwese, an advocate and father living with HIV, and Felicitas Zawaira of the WHO regional office in Brazzaville, Congo.
“The world has a golden opportunity to remove an agonizing experience for many women—the risk of transmitting HIV to a child. By working together and ensuring access to antiretroviral medicines, we can empower women with one more tool towards achieving their full reproductive health rights.”
Sheila Tlou, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa
“We have come a long way and made historic progress. But AIDS is not over. The Sustainable Development Goals provide an important opportunity to renew our commitment and to finish the unfinished business of protecting women, children and families from HIV, and providing treatment to all who need it.”
Annie Lennox, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador
