African countries have reiterated the need for equitable, affordable, and timely access to long‑acting HIV prevention and treatment innovations. Scientific breakthroughs alone will not end the epidemic without deliberate efforts to close gaps in access and affordability. This call was voiced at 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) for populations that face social, economic, or structural barriers to daily oral regimens. He praised UNAIDS and the meeting organizers for advancing practical solutions at a critical moment for global health systems, noting that long‑acting technologies could markedly improve adherence, retention in care, and overall health outcomes across the continent.
Despite progress in reducing AIDS‑related deaths and new infections through expanded antiretroviral therapy, significant gaps remain, especially among vulnerable groups. Pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV continue to experience treatment interruptions and adherence challenges, contributing to ongoing mother‑to‑child transmission. Global efforts are also off track to end AIDS among children by 2030; adult viral suppression stands at roughly 73 percent, compared with just 48 percent among children. Adolescents and young people are disproportionately affected, with adolescent girls in sub‑Saharan Africa nearly six times more likely to acquire HIV than boys of the same age. Poverty, stigma, discrimination, gender‑based violence and restrictive laws further limit access to prevention, testing, treatment and care, particularly 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 in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Dr. Mulwa emphasized that long‑acting HIV technologies should complement—not replace—a comprehensive, 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 collaborate closely with governments and regional bodies. Ensuring universal and affordable access to long‑acting HIV prevention and treatment options is essential to overcoming persistent challenges and ultimately ending the epidemic.
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