UNAIDS Cites (RED) as an Innovative Organization For an AIDS Free Generations in 2015

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), visited South Africa last week and pressed that with political will and increased funding, the world could see an AIDS Free Generation born in 2015. There is a great deal of global interest in the 2015 goal, and UNAIDS cites (RED) as an example of an innovative organization promoting awareness and raising needed resources in helping reach it. 

UNAIDS estimates about 90% of new HIV infections among children are concentrated in 22 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and India. The Global Plan delivered after the UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS in June 2011 focuses on how to address the challenges in these priority countries, and it emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach that incorporates a broad range of maternal and child health programs, puts utmost importance on country ownership of the programs and emphasizes the need for concrete plans and accountability at every level, from governments down to local communities.
Speaking from the Zola clinic in Soweto, South Africa, one of the 22 most burdened countries with 14% of the global burden, Mr. Sidibé said, “Mother by mother, clinic by clinic, and country by country we can reach pregnant women with HIV services, to ensure their babies are born free from HIV and to improve their own health.” He called on countries to accelerate progress towards the global goal to eliminate new HIV infections amongst children.

Representatives from the 22 high burden countries are meeting in South Africa this week to assess the country plans called for in the Global Plan. The two-day meeting will focus on closing the gap in these countries and creating momentum for the 2015 goal of an AIDS Free Generation being born.

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Thank you for being (RED).

Ashley