Catalyzing Global Action to Close the HIV Treatment Gap for Children

This spring, African ministers of health met with the international community to stress the importance ending AIDS in children.

Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on May 10, 2016, dignitaries called for the Political Declaration on Ending AIDS, to be agreed upon at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS (which was held from June 8-10 in New York), to include targets to scale up prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services as well as pediatric HIV testing and treatment.

Organized by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, participants included representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United National Development Program (UNDP), UNITAID, The Global Fund, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF); as well as national and deputy ministers and senior HIV program officials from across Africa (home to nearly 90% of children living with HIV). The meeting was also attended by the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire.

“Ending pediatric AIDS requires action at two levels,” said the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara and UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission and the Promotion of Pediatric Treatment for HIV. “On the one hand, we must prevent new HIV infections among children, and, on the other hand, we must provide treatment and care to all children who are living with HIV.”

The First Lady also added that 40% of new HIV infections worldwide occur in children; and many of them do not have access to antiretroviral treatment that could save their lives.

“We must work together in a strong global partnership, to implement coordinated actions … the next five years will be critical… I therefore call for the mobilization of all, [and for commitment from all for a] launch large-scale campaigns on pediatric treatment, and for the provision of antiretroviral drugs in greater numbers. This is the condition for each child to be born without HIV, remain HIV negative and have a better chance to grow and flourish.”

Catherine Connor, EGPAF’s Senior Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, also delivered remarks.

Connor’s key message was around the necessity to reduce the turn around time for results, pediatric formulation, the need to provide the proper tools and foster a proper political setting as precedents to achieve elimination of pediatric HIV. She also addresses the fact that they are various models to find children and to provide adherence support. she stressed that we must take a holistic view to HIV for children and adolescent and that it is important to learn more about this particular population  to be able to adapt services to their particular needs.

“This is a question of social justice, a question of equality,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “We have the opportunity to have a Political Declaration on Ending AIDS from the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS to help us set concrete objectives so that treatment becomes universal for everyone, wherever they find themselves.”

"This is a question of social justice, a question of equality." Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director

Significant progress has been made in preventing new HIV infections among children, particularly in regards to PMTCT. However, to end the epidemic, work to close the treatment gap for children and young people needs significant attention.

This May 10 meeting in Abidjan laid the groundwork for the Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free campaign that was launched at the 2016 UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS. The Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free framework is about galvanizing global momentum around a shared and ambitious agenda. Led by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free brings together a coalition of partners to build on the tremendous progress achieved under the Global Plan towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping their Mothers Alive (Global Plan). Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free provides a roadmap for the urgent work ahead, elevating and amplifying key initiatives that are already accelerating progress for children, adolescents and young women. These include the DREAMS Partnership, the Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment (ACT) Initiative, All-in and many others.