African Countries Renew Calls for Equitable Access to HIV Prevention and Treatment Innovations
African countries have reiterated the need for equitable, affordable, and timely access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment innovations, emphasizing that scientific breakthroughs alone will not suffice to end the epidemic without deliberate efforts to address access and affordability gaps. This call was made during a high-level UNAIDS meeting in Brazil, where Dr. Andrew Mulwa, Head of Kenya’s National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), delivered the Africa Regional Statement on behalf of African Member States.
Dr. Mulwa highlighted the transformative potential of long-acting antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) in addressing persistent challenges in HIV prevention and treatment, particularly among populations facing social, economic, or structural barriers to daily oral regimens. He commended UNAIDS and the meeting organizers for advancing discussions on practical solutions at a critical time for global health systems. Long-acting technologies, he noted, could significantly improve adherence, retention in care, and overall health outcomes across the continent.
Despite progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections through expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, significant gaps remain, particularly among vulnerable populations. Pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV continue to face treatment interruptions and adherence challenges, contributing to ongoing mother-to-child transmission. Furthermore, global efforts are not on track to end AIDS among children by 2030, with adult viral suppression at approximately 73 percent, compared to just 48 percent among children living with HIV.
Adolescents and young people remain disproportionately affected, with adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa nearly six times more likely to acquire HIV than boys of the same age. Structural and social factors, including poverty, stigma, discrimination, gender-based violence, and restrictive laws, continue to limit access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care, especially for adolescents.
African Member States have welcomed long-acting injectable ARVs as a promising innovation to improve adherence and continuity of care. However, their impact will depend on affordability, regulatory readiness, and timely availability across low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Mulwa emphasized that long-acting HIV technologies should complement, not replace, a comprehensive and person-centered response that integrates biomedical interventions with behavioral approaches, community-led services, and structural reforms.
As Africa continues to account for more than half of the world’s new HIV infections, Member States have urged global partners, pharmaceutical companies, donors, and multilateral institutions to work closely with governments and regional bodies to ensure universal and affordable access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options. This collaborative effort is crucial to addressing the persistent challenges in HIV prevention and treatment and ultimately ending the epidemic.