Of the 1.8 million children aged 0–14 years living with HIV globally, 1.7 million are in Africa. As part of efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, the African Union and the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), with support from UNAIDS, and partners launched a campaign called Free To Shine in early 2018.
Now the campaign is ready to be rolled out across 42 African countries but urgently needs funding. To enable the roll-out, the African Union and OAFLA held an event on the margins of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly to help raise much-needed resources to support the campaign.
The roll-out of the campaign will allow OAFLA members to engage in community-level activities to help reduce stigma and discrimination at home and in the community, raise community awareness about the importance of adherence to treatment and retention in care for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding and to promote male involvement.
As part of the campaign, the first ladies will also leverage their unique position to influence policy-makers and agenda-setters to better address the needs of women living with HIV—advocating for policies and laws that discourage stigma and discrimination based on HIV status and for the removal of user fees for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding, as well as other barriers that limit access to HIV and health services.
The session was moderated by television and radio journalist Zeinab Badawi.
“We are at a critical stage in eliminating new infections among children, particularly in areas of emergency, notably western and central Africa. I thank our founding partner, UNAIDS, for its unwavering commitment to ending AIDS in Africa and around the world."
Adjoavi Sika Kabore First Lady of Burkina Faso and Interim President of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS
“Everything changed when I found out I was pregnant and had an HIV test. What was meant to be one of the best days of my life came to be one of my hated moments. There was no psychosocial support. Mothers to Mothers was the missing link—it taught me how to take my medicines and how to fight the stigma around HIV. The best thing is that my baby was born free from HIV. Mothers to Mothers empowered me and together we are building healthier societies. We are raising the future, one mother, one baby, one community at a time.”
Mother of three and Mothers to Mothers trainer from Khayelitsha, South Africa
“AIDS is not over. It is the last mile, and the last mile is not easy. We need to be strong and ensure that this partnership with the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS is the one to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Your efforts will be critical to whatever we will be able to achieve.”
Michel Sidibé Executive Director, UNAIDS
