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
Press and Media
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.