From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has advocated for community leadership in Africa and collaboration in driving the strategies for a global response to end the epidemic by 2030.
UNAIDS highlighted this critical role of community leadership in Africa’s HIV response during a thematic consultative virtual meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs), HIV activists, and journalists from countries in West and Central Africa over the weekend.
Senior Adviser for Equality and Rights for All at UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Christoforos Mallouris, while presenting UNAIDS’ comprehensive vision for the new HIV strategy (2026-2031), stressed that the leading role of local communities will shape the future of HIV response, particularly in Africa.
“The Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 aims to focus global efforts for the future of the AIDS response to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and sustain the HIV response after 2030. Community leadership in achieving this strategy in Africa is critical,” he declared.
He said the consultation meeting, which focuses on “Ensuring an integrated and financed community response to HIV in Africa”, was organised to review the 2021-2026 strategy and collate recommendations from participants across the West and Central Africa region.
He urged participants to support national efforts and responses by HIV/AIDS bodies in their countries to end HIV and AIDS.
Participants recommended community-led governance and involvement in decision-making and community-led advocacy.
It was also recommended that community members should lead the monitoring of HIV responses and research.
UNAIDS is a global organisation which aims to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.