HIV AIDS and STI programme

This document includes a public health analysis of the HIV epidemic and the continuum of care and antiretroviral treatment for children living with HIV in Africa. It provides an updated situational analysis on the HIV epidemic and the continuum of HIV care and treatment in children (0-14 years old) in Africa, including an overview of estimates and trends for children living with HIV, children newly diagnosed, and AIDS-related deaths. Additionally, the report comprises key policy and programmatic information.

Elimination of mother-to-child-transmission

If a woman with HIV is pregnant, the virus can be transmitted to her child during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding. Syphilis is another serious disease that can be transmitted from mother to child. The transmission of HIV and syphilis can be drastically reduced with simple and affordable measures. However, many challenges remain in Africa for universal diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.  One of them is the poor integration of the different health services used by pregnant women.

AHO works together with partners to promote a comprehensive and integrated approach to prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis.

The prevention and comprehensive care for key populations is related to groups or people that are known or assumed to be at the epicenter of the HIV epidemic.

Treatment and care

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to maximally suppress HIV, stop the progression of the disease and reduce HIV related morbidity and mortality. The benefits of ART also include the prevention of HIV transmission.

AHO aims to catalyse HIV treatment scale up, promoting innovation, efficiency, and sustainability through focused work in five priority areas: 1) optimized ARV drug regimens; 2) point of care technology for diagnosis and monitoring; 3) cost reduction; 4) adaptation of delivery systems and 5) community mobilization and participation in the continuum of HIV care. AHO works with global and regional partners, technical experts, civil society and other co-sponsors to implement this initiative in countries, with short-, medium- and long -term targets and milestones.

Integration

Integration of HIV and other health programs, and strengthening of critical health systems components in a framework of broader health sector strategies is essential for a sustainable HIV response. In order to achieve equitable access to, utilization and outcome of HIV health services, human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches must be mainstreamed in HIV programs and services.

HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections

The unit provides technical cooperation to the countries to:

• Reduce the transmission of and the morbidity and mortality related to HIV, STI, TB and Viral hepatitis through strengthening and expansion of strategies for prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these infections.
• Fostering of a supportive environment for outreach to key populations disproportionately affected by these diseases, including LGBT communities, sex workers, prison populations, persons who use drugs, indigenous populations, and afro-descendants, through advocacy, capacity building, and fostering of community involvement.
• Promote and support the establishment of mechanisms for the generation, dissemination and use of strategic information