In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024, the African Union, EGPAF, UNAIDS, AUDA-NEPAD, and Abbott hosted an engaging webinar titled “Take the Rights Path: Advancing Rights and Access for Triple Elimination in Africa.”The session brought together experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the Triple Elimination policy, with a focus on strengthening PMTCT platforms and integrating programmes to address HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis.
Dr Sheila Shawa, Senior Technical and Partnership Specialist, Department of Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition, African Union Commission, highlighted the importance of a unified approach: “We need to integrate programmes and merge resources to address HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis collectively, focusing on prevention rather than just treatment. Leadership and advocacy at all levels—RECs, Member States, the private sector, and development partners—are crucial to driving the implementation of our continental strategies and achieving accelerated results.”
Dr Sihaka Tsemo, Director, UNAIDS Liaison Office to the AU and ECA, underscored the need to prioritise children: “Firstly, our children are our future! We must prioritise their rights, dignity, and care, ensuring early testing, optimised treatment, and addressing social barriers that hinder progress—because people remain at the centre of our fight to end AIDS in children. Secondly, we must hold our leaders accountable. Africa is rich in resources, and the solution to achieving triple elimination lies in leveraging domestic financing to sustain our programmes. It’s time to look inward to achieve our targets and secure our future.”
Ms Laura Lontsi Tsakou, Co-Founder of the Réseau Camerounais des Adolescents et Jeunes positifs (RéCAJ+), highlighted the pivotal role of youth: “The African continent is predominantly made up of young people, making it essential to recognise and harness their leadership. Youth-led advocacy efforts and monitoring have had remarkable success. However, barriers to service provision for young people remain. We need to empower young people, trust them, and involve them in decision-making to maximise the impact of our responses to HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis.”
The webinar reinforced the call for integrating resources, strengthening domestic financing, and empowering youth to accelerate Africa’s journey toward achieving the triple elimination of HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Plans to organise another webinar on triple elimination in 2025 are underway.