As Africa joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Aids Day, the African Union Commission has reiterated its commitment to combating HIV/AIDS in the continent.
It has also tasked leaders and communities on the need to embark on innovative approaches to combating HIV/AIDS.
The assurance and call were contained in a press statement issued by the African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, H.E. Amira Elfadil Mohamed.
“We all need to leverage on pre-existing resources in the communities we live in – skills, knowledge, and practices – which are valuable tools in the fight against AIDS,” the statement read in part.
It went on to note that “When HIV awareness education and consciousness-raising is designed with the community in mind, it demystifies the virus and breaks down associated stigmatization, discrimination, and other cultural barriers to effective action.
“This fosters an atmosphere in which community members feel more courageous to speak out and mobilize towards issues regarding HIV/AIDS.
“The statement which expressed concerns about the decline of funding for HIV in Africa which has decreased significantly since 2018, noted that: “It is consequential to efforts of maintaining HIV treatment and care on the continent.
“Debt sustainability for sustained HIV response is an urgent imperative for affected AU Member States and donors, but it is time to invest from resources that are locally available through innovation and improved resource pooling systems.”
“New sources of funding, in addition to domestic sources, need to be taken up to meet future health-related obligations.
“The African Union Commission concluded a series of Africa Leadership Meetings (ALM) of Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Health where the ministers pledged to work together for more money for health, and more health for money.
“Stakeholders of the African Union Commission are encouraged to work together to accelerate the implementation of these policy frameworks endorsed by AU Member States, and largely the SDGs.
It further reiterated the Commission’s renewed commitment to work with different partners across sectors to promote community activism, international solidarity, and cooperation in the fields of science and medicine to help end childhood AIDS in Africa by 2030 and keep mothers healthy in Africa.
