By Haruna Gimba
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) has taken important decisions relating to the HIV response, the COVID-19 epidemic, and the ongoing transformation of UNAIDS.
The decisions were concluded during the 47th virtual meeting of the UNAIDS, a statement from the UN agency said.
Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, in her opening remarks to the PCB, thanked the United States of America for chairing the meeting and its continued leadership in the AIDS response.
In a report to the PCB on the state of the HIV epidemic, Ms Byanyima described a mixed picture of progress for some and inequality, stalled or growing danger from HIV for others.
With the UNAIDS 2020 targets unmet, she warned that COVID-19 threatened to blow the HIV response even further off-track and called on the world to tackle the long-term fragilities, inequalities and injustices which continue to drive the HIV epidemic.
“A second pandemic in COVID-19 now makes the situation immeasurably more complex. Our choices are stark: get back on track by tackling inequality rapidly and head on, with the expectation that progress for some can be realized by all, or watch as we slip further behind,” Ms Byanyima said.
In a special address, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, said that people living with HIV, key populations and community-led organizations were critical to helping shape the future of the AIDS response.
She urged the PCB to prioritize the adoption of the new UNAIDS strategy with its ambitious 2025 targets so that it could inform preparations for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS expected to be held in June 2021.
“We need political will and renewed commitment to adopt this strategy, to fully fund the global AIDS response, and to fully fund UNAIDS. Together let us make this decade of action also the decade we end AIDS,” she said.
During the meeting, Ms Byanyima thanked Sweden and Germany for announcing significant financial contributions to support the work of UNAIDS, demonstrating their ongoing support for the organization.
The PCB concluded with a thematic segment on cervical cancer and HIV with a special address from the First Lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos.
The PCB elected Namibia as its Chair for 2021, with Thailand to serve as vice-chair and the United States of America as rapporteur.
