On the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé has met with the President of Benin, Patrice Talon.

Mr Sidibé praised the country for integrating HIV and health services to include tuberculosis and other epidemics, as well as Benin’s efforts to stop HIV transmission from mother to child.

President Talon said that we have the tools to end all forms of HIV transmission.

The wide-ranging conversation covered a number of issues focused on innovation and integration, including the untapped potential for local production.

President Talon and Mr Sidibé were joined by First Lady Claudine Talon, who has made health one of the issues she is championing in Benin. 

Benin recently made news as one of nine countries in Africa to make contributions to the replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.