Defeating HIV

In its statement to mark World AIDS day 2007 the Africa Public Health Rights Alliance “15% Now!” Campaign has called on African governments to meet Public Health commitments by implementing the Abuja pledge to allocate 15% or more of annual budgets to health in their 2008 budgets, and in particular to start funding the African Union Health Strategy, the AU Implementation Plan on HIV, TB, and Malaria, and the Maputo Plan of Action on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights.

APHRA and 15% Campaign Coordinator Rotimi Sankore stated:

"Global health is a global responsibility. But while we call for global health commitments to be met, African governments must also fund African health strategies and plans if Africa is to be taken seriously in its fight against infectious diseases and to improve Public Health." He underlined that "it took African governments 25 years after the start of the global HIV epidemic to develop a plan of Action. Now that the African Union leadership has after years of hard work delivered an overall continental Health Strategy and key plans of action for HIV, and Reproductive and Sexual Health, we cannot wait another 25 years to fund them. Africa’s future is grim if our governments do not act now."

He emphasised that "the link between HIV and Reproductive and Sexual Health is universally understood and recognised and there is no dispute that the majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted or linked with pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding. It is therefore imperative that African governments focus health policy and investment on Reproductive and Sexual Health. It is no coincidence that the countries with the best reproductive and sexual health systems also have the lowest prevalence of HIV and almost zero Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. Gender inequality and violence against women must also be addressed "

He further stated that "the high prevalence of HIV and TB co-infection in southern Africa is a warning to the entire continent not to be complacent on tackling HIV. The reduction in 2007 HIV estimates must have no impact on resource mobilisation for HIV and Public Health in general. From an African Public Health perspective, a downward revision from 24.5 million to 22.5 million is no cause for celebration. Globally, there are still estimated 6 800 new infections and over 5 700 AIDS deaths daily and the rate of infection far outstrips access to prevention, treatment and care. For Africa in particular the demand is still the same for health systems development and in particular for sufficient numbers of and better working conditions for health workers without which no health targets can be met."

In a related development, the APHRA and 15% Campaign Coordinator welcomed this weeks commitment by the South African government to announce a new protocol for a prevention of mother to child transmission programme within two weeks. "With an estimated over half a million cases of MTCT in Africa annually, the South African initiative on reducing MTCT is a welcome positive step."

ENDS
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For Further Information Please Contact the Following: Int. office: +44 207 424 5744; Or Africa Office +234 1 4925568, email: media[at]africapublichealth.org.

www.africa15percentcampaign.org

Reproductive and Sexual Health is the Key to Defeating HIV Says Africa Public Health Rights Alliance "15% Now!" Campaign as it Calls on African Governments to Seize the Opportunity of 2008 Annual Budgets to Start Funding:

v The African Union Health Strategy

v The African Union Implementation Plan on HIV, TB and Malaria, and

v The Maputo Plan of Action on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights

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