Ahead of the mid-term review of the 90–90–90 treatment targets in 2017, Marc Angel, Chair of Foreign Affairs and Development Committee of the Luxembourg Parliament and UNAIDS Champion for the 90-90-90 targets, undertook a multicountry fact-finding visit to Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho from 17 to 21 April. The visit provided Mr Angel with the opportunity to conduct high-level political advocacy to continue and accelerate momentum towards achieving 90–90–90 by 2020.
The fact-finding visits to southern Africa confirmed the importance of intensifying efforts to increase the proportion of people living with HIV who know their HIV status. In addition, the visits highlighted the central importance of community health workers, both to achieve the 90–90–90 targets and to ensure national preparedness to identify and address emerging health challenges.
What are the 90–90–90 targets?
- By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
- By 2020, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status are accessing treatment.
- By 2020, 90% of all people on treatment have suppressed viral loads .
Modelling suggests that achieving these targets by 2020 will enable the world to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, which in turn will generate profound health and economic benefits
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In each country he visited, Mr Angel met with leaders from government and civil society to witness how 90–90–90 is being adopted in high-burden countries. He also visited numerous health facilities and community-based projects to experience first-hand how 90–90–90 is being implemented on the ground. All three countries have adopted and implemented the World Health Organization guidelines for universal HIV testing and treatment for all people living with HIV and have strong political commitment to reaching 90–90–90. The three ministers of health from each country agreed that community health workers must be the central mode of delivery for 90–90–90.
“What I have seen in the field is that 90–90–90 is a reality, not only for government officials, but also for communities. Let’s use the next three years to keep the momentum going and indeed to push even harder to achieve our goal.”
Marc Angel UNAIDS Champion for the 90–90–90 targets
“Witnessing how communities are on the Fast-Track to achieve 90–90–90 showed us how important community health workers are for the AIDS response, both in Africa and globally. It is clear that they play an essential role in achieving 90–90–90.”
Sheila Tlou Director, Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa
“Leadership for the AIDS response is crucial. This includes community and traditional leaders, which the CATCH community-based HIV prevention project in Botswana demonstrates perfectly.”
Dorcas Makgato Minister of Health, Botswana
“Currently the world is geared towards a curative health system. 90–90–90 will help us achieve a much-needed change to preventative health services, which will be a smart investment for high-burden countries, such as South Africa.”
Aaron Motsoaledi Minister of Health, South Africa
“We made the decision to implement same day test and treat in certain locations based on the evidence of people being left behind. We will only succeed if we all pull together to ensure accountability, transparency and leadership for the AIDS response.”
Molotsi Monyamane Minister of Health, Lesotho
