Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya and Toyin Saraki (Guest writers) During the recently commemorated Pan-African Women’s Day (PAWD), we were reminded of the enduring legacy, resilience, and leadership of African women. However, as we celebrated, we also confronted a lingering truth: far too many pregnant and breastfeeding women in Africa are still left behind in HIV prevention…
Sub-Saharan Africa has taken a cautious but critical step toward greater health self-reliance as locally produced HIV medicines and diagnostic tests begin reaching national programmes – including, for the first time, procurement of African-made treatment for Mozambique. The development marks a milestone for a region that bears nearly 65 per cent of the global HIV…
Each year, Pan-African Women’s Day (PAWD) reminds us of the enduring legacy, resilience, and leadership of African women. However, as we celebrate, we must also confront a lingering truth: far too many pregnant and breastfeeding women in Africa are still left behind in HIV prevention efforts. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are not merely recipients of…
A call to Action has emerged from a High-Level Ministerial Conference on Triple Elimination of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B, held in Kampala, Uganda. African Ministers of Health, development partners, and civil society organisations committed to a united front to end vertical transmission of the three infections by the year 2030. At the heart of…
Health ministers from African Union (AU) member states, along with development partners and civil society organisations, have called for urgent and coordinated action to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B by 2030. The call was made at the conclusion of the High-Level Ministerial Conference on Triple Elimination, held in Kampala from July…
Kampala, Uganda — Health experts, policymakers, and researchers on Monday began a three-day meeting in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, to accelerate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B across Africa. The event, held under the theme “Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” is dubbed as Africa’s…
Around the world, millions of people are living with HIV, each with their own story, challenges, and hopes. In the last few decades, antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable disease, and stigma has declined in many communities. Despite progress in treatment and awareness, critical barriers remain. Millions of people…
New WHO guidelines endorse long-acting injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention, Medicines Patent Pool expands licence for long-acting injectable cabotegravir for treatment, and Merck’s once-monthly oral pill MK-8527 advances to Phase 3 trials in Africa 14 July 2025 (Kigali, Rwanda) – IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science, opened today with a call to accelerate…
As science soars with game-changing HIV tools, a funding crisis threatens to ground progress “We come together at a pivotal time for the HIV response, one defined by both incredible scientific possibilities and deeply troubling political realities,” said Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn, the President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), and co-chair of the conference. The…
A breakthrough HIV drug that only needs to be injected twice a year to offer near-total protection from the virus and developing AIDS should be made available “immediately” at pharmacies, clinics and via online consultations, the UN health agency said on Monday. Injectable lenacapavir – LEN, for short – is a highly effective, long-acting antiretroviral…
