A Virtual Celebration of Heroes in the Global HIV and COVID-19 Response:

Over the past decades, we’ve seen the power of longstanding, transformational partnerships to address the inequities of the global HIV pandemic, so we can create the first AIDS-free generation.

On October 27, 2021, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) team had the opportunity to come together to honor and celebrate these partnerships through a virtual A Time for Heroes event. The EGPAF community of friends, practitioners, ambassadors, and supporters shared the progress that has been made along the road from “lab to last mile” in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, highlighting innovative approaches necessary to address the unique challenges facing children, youth and families in the global AIDS response – particularly in light of COVID-19 disruption.

During the event, three honorees received the 2021 Hero Awards: Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC, received the Innovation Hero Award; Stacy Meyer, Vice President, Africa Implementation & Impact, Global Public Health, accepted the Corporate Hero Award on behalf of Johnson & Johnson; and Dee Mphafi Tanka, EGPAF Senior Youth Ambassador, was honored with the Frontline Hero Award.

Through his role as the founding director of Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong has demonstrated steady leadership in the global response to COVID-19, leading the agency in its efforts to achieve vaccine equity across the continent. “The past 20 months battling the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilient health systems have shown that our collective small efforts can accumulate into huge results,” shared Dr. Nkengasong. His strategic approach to these dual pandemics demonstrates the creativity and innovative thinking needed to address the deeply complex public health challenges facing the world today: “The challenges that we face are huge and cannot be met only with investment from the public sector,” Dr. Nkengasong explained. “We have to strategically include the private sector and other partners so that collectively we are aligned with the same goals and targets.”

Dee Mphafi Tanka, as an EGPAF Senior Youth Ambassador, is a leading peer counselor for HIV programs in Lesotho. “Having HIV does not define me, nor affect my dreams for a prosperous future,” shared Dee. “I work to empower adolescent girls to access HIV services and stay healthy and strong.” As a new wife and mother to an HIV-free husband and baby, Dee shared: “When I look at my daughter, I feel so proud of myself.”Having lived with HIV since her teenage years, Dee now serves on the frontlines of her community, guiding, educating, and inspiring her peers to take charge of their health, so they too can live full and healthy lives.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the recipient of the Corporate Hero Award, was honored for their longtime work on the frontlines of HIV and COVID-19. J&J has been a steadfast partner of EGPAF in our work to end AIDS in children, youth and families for 30 years. Accepting the award on behalf of her company, J&J Vice President Stacy Meyer said: “Together we continue to innovate and collaborate from the lab to the last mile, to ensure equitable access for everyone, everywhere, so that children can be children–or as I like to say, so the kiddos can be kiddos.” Thanks to the power of solidarity, innovation, and collaboration, shared Meyer, “The HIV community has made significant strides. But there is more work to be done. By working in partnership, we can and will make HIV history.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker agreed in the event’s keynote address, “Wider cracks – more loss: COVID-19, HIV, and Children.” Dr. Bekker, Professor of Medicine and Chief Operating Officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, explained: “We’ve seen some successes to celebrate. But we must roll up our sleeves and get to work. It’s time for each of us to become frontline heroes, and end the HIV epidemic for children.”

EGPAF CEO Chip Lyons concluded the event by sharing with the gathered attendees: “It will take partnerships with people like you, the global community of peers, supporters, and donors, to realize the dream of a world without HIV.”

View the full event below.