On 21 May 2024, a webinar titled “HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections: Progress and gaps”, was held in the run up to the 77th World Health Assembly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a publication, which describes progress and gaps identified during the first two years of implementing the global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for 2022-2030. The publication builds on its short report.

The latest data show that new acquisitions and deaths are not declining fast enough. Gains have been made in expanding access to HIV and hepatitis C treatment and the validation of elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and/or syphilis in 19 countries, but many indicators needed to achieve the global targets are off track.

We asked key leaders in the responses to HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs how we can increase visibility, political will and community activism to accelerate action.

The webinar was organized by the IAS and its partners, WHO, MPP and Unitaid.


 

Moderators 

Birgit Poniatowski : IAS – the International AIDS Society

Esteban Burrone : Medicines Patent Pool

 

Speakers 

Opening remarks

Jérôme Salomon : WHO, Switzerland

Highlights from the Progress and Gaps report

Meg Doherty : WHO, Switzerland

Lessons from Rwanda

Sabin Nsanzimana : Ministry of Health, Rwanda

Lessons from Namibia in advancing the triple elimination of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis

Ben Nangombe : Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia

Factors driving the rise in new STI cases and what we can do about it

Patty Garcia : Cayetano Heredia University, Peru

 

Panelists

Philippe Duneton : Unitaid, Switzerland

Maureen Luba : AVAC, Malawi

Jessica Hicks : World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom

Julia Martin : PEPFAR, United States