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UNAIDS Board (12-14 December 2017, Geneva)
Susanne Amsler, SDC HQ Bern
Facts & Figures:
Significant progress in the area of treatment. By now, nearly 21 Mio
(of estimated 37 Mio) HIV positive people access Antiretroviral Therapy.
82% of these 21 Mio are virally suppressed and can’t transmit the
virus. However, progress on reducing new infections is stagnating.
UNAIDS is currently putting primary prevention back on the HIV/AIDS
agenda. At regional level, Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the only
region where new HIV infections have risen (by 60% since 2010) and
AIDS-related deaths have also increased (by 27%). An epidemiological
shift is taking place in Eastern Europe, from a concentrated epidemic
(mainly among injecting drug users) to a generalized epidemic in the
general population. Sexual transmission among heterosexuals makes now up
for 55% of all transmission.
Progress on the UNAIDS reform: Overall good
progress on reforms at UNAIDS: The most important item of the 41st PCB
was the first report on progress of the action plan to refine the UNAIDS
operating model, as approved in the 40th PCB in June 2017. The action
plan was a measure to address UNAIDS underfunding but at the same time
reform aspects of governance and joint collaboration. All 11 co-sponsor
agencies (UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNODC, ILO, WFP,
WHO, WB ) and the UNAIDS Secretariat stated a renewed spirit of
collaboration within the joint programme. An important element hereof is
the introduction of country envelopes (programmatic funds to promote
joint UNAIDS action at country level) based on joint plans, which have
led to stronger collaboration at global, regional and country level. The
refined operating model is a compromise to address current financial
challenges and still implement as well as possible the ambitious UNAIDS
strategy 2016-21. For more information on the 41st PCB (including
background documents and decision on thematic areas such as HIV in
prisons or discrimination in health care settings):
http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/unaidsprogrammecoordinatingboard/pcb-41_12-14dec2017
Swiss approach to harm reduction was prominently presented through
the address of the former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss and the second
edition of the Swiss field visit for the UNAIDS Board, on harm reduction
in Geneva.
See media release by UNAIDS here.
