MEDIA ADVISORY

36^th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly Side-event on Health Financing and HIV/AIDS

INVITATION TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What:  High-level Event on Health Financing and Sustaining Actions to End AIDS and Related Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (Working Lunch)
Theme: “End HIV/AIDS in Africa by 2030”

When: Friday, 17 February 2023, from 12H30 – 15H00 (GMT+3)

Where: Multipurpose Hall, AU HQ

Who: The African Union Commission, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO)

Background:

The HIV pandemic was raging worldwide but had an acute impact across Africa. The spread of the disease affected every dimension of African society; AIDS had lowered the life expectancy of adults on average by 20 years. In 2001, the Heads of State of Africa met in a Special Summit in Abuja explicitly devoted to addressing the unprecedented challenges of HIV-related disease, TB, and other related infectious diseases. This session, which came soon after the first UN Security Council Resolution in 2000, acknowledged the tremendous impact the spread of HIV was having on the continent not only as a health risk but also acknowledged the economic and security implications across the continent.

In 2013 African Heads of State and Government (HoSG) reaffirmed their commitment to the AIDS, TB and Malaria response at the Abuja+12 Special Summit. The Declaration of the Summit of the African Union on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria committed to accelerating the mobilization of domestic resources to strengthen health systems; ensure strategies were in place for diversified, balanced and sustainable financing for health, in particular for AIDS, TB and Malaria and targeted poverty elimination strategies and social protection programmes that integrate HIV-related diseases, TB and Malaria for all; particularly for vulnerable populations.

Objectives:

The massive impacts of twin pandemics of COVID-19 and HIV-related diseases have highlighted what remains the largest threat to the Africa Union Agenda 2063 - Africa We Want. Africa’s experience attempting to control COVID-19 and HIV-related diseases (and the previous experience with the West African Ebola outbreak) exemplifies how huge gaps remain in the underlying strength of its health systems. The AIDS epidemic is not over, nor is the continent on track to achieve an AIDS-free Africa by 2030.

The key objectives of the event are:

1. Sustaining political commitments – requiring every African Head of State to commit to setting quantitative targets for HIV control (and tracking progress), developing a roadmap to strengthening health systems for pandemic prevention in their country, and reforming policies that prevent vulnerable populations from receiving treatment;

2. Secure new financial commitments – engaging international donors (bilateral, multilateral, philanthropies) to identify new pools of capital and fund existing pledges while setting a GDP target for national health spending on HIV-related diseases and pandemic preparedness;

3. Acknowledge the role of the African private sector and strengthen the public-private partnership – outlining major regional initiatives on (a) health financing (e.g., low-interest loans), (b) health infrastructure (e.g., supply chains, facilities, data/digital tools), and (c) health manufacturing (e.g., diagnostics, treatments, vaccines) and by aligning national and international companies, investors, and governments to those areas to accelerate progress;

4. Elevate community, young people and civil society voices – raising the profile of advocates, PLHIV, community organizations, faith leaders and the youth who have been champions for the HIV/AIDS response and social and behavioural change (SBC) in their country.

Expected outcome:

The consideration and adoption of the Declaration on Health Financing and Sustaining Action to End AIDS and related Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases.

Participation at the event:

Attendance is by invitation only. Members of the press accredited to cover the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly

For more information, please contact:

Prof. Julio Rakotonirina | Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs Directorate, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission| Email: JulioR@africa-union.org; cc: Abbasl@africa-union.org;

For further media inquiries, please contact:

1. Ms. Whitney Mwangi | Health Policy Communications and Advocacy Specialist, Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission | E-mail: WhitneyM@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
3. Ms Buhle Hlatshwayo | Policy Advocacy Officer | Health Division | AUDA - NEPAD | E-mail: buhleh@nepad.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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