Addis Ababa, 20 Feb 2023 – The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster collaboration and support Africa’s efforts to end AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.
A key pillar of Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse is the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2030 – three of the world’s most acute public health threats. The agreement embedded within the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development will build on the mandate of AIDS Watch Africa, which is a statutory entity of the AU established in 2001 to lead advocacy, resource mobilisation and accountability efforts to advance a robust African response to end AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030. Broadly, it formalises the mutual interaction and strengthens the relationship between the AUC and EGPAF to address the inequalities children face in AIDS and TB response.
H.E Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, AU Commission, noted, There is great value in coordination. With the signing of today’s MoU, the AU Commission and EGPAF have created an umbrella framework encompassing the two institutions’ knowledge, expertise, and networks to strengthen efforts towards an AIDS-free Africa by 2030. I am looking forward to the implementation of the new actions as a result of this cooperation, especially around addressing the gaps in care for children and adolescents who bear the brunt of the epidemic in Africa.
The agreement to collaborate comes after the endorsement of an Extraordinary Summit on HIV/AIDS to tackle AIDS and TB in children and adolescents by the AU Heads of State and Government during the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly.
“I applaud the commitment by African leaders to address the growing inequity in the AIDS and TB response for children and young people,” said Chip Lyons, EGPAF President and CEO.
“To end AIDS and TB as a public health threat, children need the political and financial attention they deserve. The call for a Special Session on Ending AIDS, Preventable Maternal Deaths and Health Systems Strengthening by Heads of State and Government affirms this commitment. EGPAF is ready and committed to working with African Union Commission and national governments to find and implement solutions necessary to end AIDS and TB in children and young people”.
About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
EGPAF is a proven leader in the fight for an AIDS-free generation and has reached over 31 million pregnant women with services to prevent the transmission of HIV to their babies. Founded in 1988, EGPAF has supported over 15,000 sites and currently works in 19 countries to offer HIV counselling, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services alongside high-quality family health care. Each stage of life—from infancy to adulthood—brings new and different challenges, and EGPAF is driven to see a world where no other mother, child, or family is devastated by this disease. For more information, visit www.pedaids.org.
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: AbbasI@africa-union.org;
For further media inquiries, please contact:
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
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org