AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference

AIDS 2026 is the premier global forum on the HIV epidemic, convening scientists, policymakers, community advocates, and implementers from around the world.

At this year’s conference, EGPAF will lead a satellite session on what it will actually take to end pediatric HIV amid funding disruptions, feature community health worker programming through the ViiV Breakthrough Partnership, host a reception for partners and stakeholders, and present research from Malawi and Cameroon on advanced HIV disease, vertical transmission, and treatment continuity.

Schedule

Bridging Communities and Health Systems: CHW Best Practices for HIV Care and Support for Children and Adolescents

Monday, July 27, 2026 | 9:30 – 11 am  
Featuring: Dr. Martha Mukaminega, Associate Director Pediatric and Adolescent Services, EGPAF

This workshop draws lessons from five African countries through the Breakthrough Partnership, a model engaging governments and communities to locate, link, treat, and retain mothers and children at risk or living with HIV. It highlights the critical role of CHWs as trusted community members who bridge families and health systems. Lessons emphasize integrating CHWs into primary health care with training, structured supervision, and referral pathways to ensure continuity of care, address workload, burnout, and stigma, and maximize their impact in sustaining community-based HIV services. 

Children Can’t Wait: From Funding Crisis to Foundational Fixes: What it will actually take to end pediatric HIV 

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 | 12 – 1 pm 
Hosted by: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

We are closer to ending pediatric HIV than at any point in history. And yet in 2024, 120,000 children acquired HIV — every case preventable. Children are 3% of people living with HIV but account for 12% of all HIV-related deaths. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, half will not reach their second birthday. 

The global HIV field is excited about innovation — and rightly so. But innovation alone will not end pediatric HIV. Globally, nearly 58% of new infections in children occur because the mother was never diagnosed or never started ART. Maternal acquisition during pregnancy and breastfeeding accounts for another 25% — where long-acting PrEP has genuine potential, but only if women stay on it. Early data from countries like Malawi show that adherence and retention on lenacapavir remain real challenges. The foundational gap must be confronted alongside the innovation agenda. 

The funding disruptions of the past year have aggravated these gaps. New infections in children had declined 62% since 2010. That progress is now in jeopardy. This session will examine where the gaps are, what the evidence tells us about fixing them, and what the global HIV community can commit to today. 

Panelists:

• Dr. Roland van der Ven, Senior Technical Director, EGPAF  
• Dr. Friday Saidi 
• Ismail Harerimana, Uganda Community Advisor, EGPAF  

Meet Our Delegation

Our experts will be at the workshop speaking and sharing insights from across EGPAF’s programs.

Doris Macharia

President

Roland van de Ven

Senior Director, Technical Excellence

Cathrien Alons

Director, Technical Leadership

Natella Rakhmanina

Senior Technical Advisor

Martha Mukaminega

Associate Director, Pediatric and Adolescent Services

Ismail Harerimana

Community Advisor

Becca Avigad

Associate Officer, Public Policy and Advocacy

Haydé Adams

Director, Media Relations