Good afternoon and a warm welcome to this World AIDS Day event.
The year 2020 marks an important milestone in our quest to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
First, it is the end of the lifecycle of the 2020 Fast-Track targets.
Second, it is the beginning of the decade of action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets.
We have 10 years to transform our world and to deliver on the global goals.
This year also saw the emergence and spread of COVID-19, which in addition to killing more than 1.4 million people so far, has caused substantial disruptions in essential health services, including for HIV.
A recent WHO survey of 61 countries showed that 38 had experienced disruptions in HIV testing, 23 in HIV viral load testing, and 17 had experienced disruptions in key population-related services.
A regional assessment showed that four of the Region’s 11 Member States experienced similar challenges.
Member States have nevertheless made tremendous efforts to revive and maintain essential health services, including for HIV, as a core part of the COVID-19 response.
On HIV specifically, they have dispensed antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) on a multi-month basis.
They have provided take-home dosages of drugs for opioid substitution therapy.
And they have worked with key populations to ensure that both demand and supply-side barriers are overcome.
They have engaged, supported and protected frontline health workers, including nurses and midwives.
This is in keeping with the steady progress Member States have made against HIV in recent years, which has saved and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
But despite that progress, both the Region and world will fail to meet the 90-90-90 Fast-Track targets.
As the theme of this year’s commemoration highlights, together we must act in global solidarity to achieve our targets and goals, for which strong, resilient HIV services are key.
Three priorities must chart the path ahead.
First, we must make every possible effort to empower communities to prevent HIV and to access services that detect and treat it.
Information campaigns can ensure all key populations know how to reduce the risk of infection, for example through safer sex or safe injection. They should know where and how to access these services and must feel comfortable doing so.
By empowering communities to prevent, detect and treat HIV, countries can make full use of a range of new tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and community-based and HIV self-testing, as well as better ARVs such as dolutegravir.
Second, we must harness the rich experience of communities affected by HIV.
Epidemics are dynamic and change over time. We must understand why new infections have plateaued and identify high-impact interventions that will bend the curve.
Acting on the insights and advice of key populations is a precondition of success.
Third, we must ensure that all initiatives are fully funded and synergised with the quest to achieve universal health coverage, which the Region has pursued as a Flagship Priority since 2014.
We must not only strengthen health systems to provide services that are of good quality and accessible to all, but we must also build systems for health that promote community engagement and buy-in.
To end this epidemic, we must leave no one behind.
I look forward to the insights you will share on our years-long struggle against HIV and to hearing of your experiences in supporting affected communities and services throughout this pandemic.
I wish you an inspiring and engaging World AIDS Day and reiterate WHO’s steadfast commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, for the health and well-being of all.
Thank you.