The new Dar es Salaam Declaration for Action says it is ‘a winnable fight’
On Wednesday, public health officials from across Africa gathered in Dar es Salaam to talk about the action needed to stop AIDS in children by 2030. And the declaration for action says that the fight against HIV and AIDS in children is one that is “winnable”.
Declaration
On Wednesday, representatives from twelve African countries got together with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UNICEF and other world organizations. They came together for the first meeting of the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children. This alliance has been formed in the summer when the United Nations realized that only 52% of the children with AIDS receive lifesaving treatment. And now, the global alliance wants to work towards ending AIDS in children by 2030. According to the alliance, it is an achievable goal. The declaration says: “We have the tools, the guidance, the policies, and the knowledge we need. Now we must make good on this commitment and move to action. Together we will not fail.”
Change
Some of the commitments of the declaration include that universal testing and treatment should be available to all children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Another commitment includes ending the stigma that comes with an HIV infection. And to end gender-based violence. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS who fight to end AIDS, wrote in a Tweet: “With the science & drugs that we have today, no baby should be born with HIV and no baby should get infected during breastfeeding—and if a child lives with HIV then that child [should] be on treatment & living a healthy life. We must close the treatment gap to save children’s lives.”
The new commitments focus not only on accessible healthcare but also promote the active participation of the community and national programs. John Nkengasong, the U.S. global AIDS coordinator and leader of PEPFAR told Common Dreams: “Closing the gap for children will require laser focus and a steadfast commitment to hold ourselves, governments, and all partners accountable for results,”
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Source: Common Dreams | Image: Unsplash, Annie Spratt