The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UNAIDS have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their cooperation towards sustaining the gains made in the HIV and AIDS response by prioritising HIV prevention and domestic financing.
The Executive Secretary of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi and the Regional Director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa Her Excellency Anne Githuku-Shongwe made the commitment during their meeting held at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana on 2 April 2025.
The two parties acknowledged that despite the significant strides that the SADC region has made such as the reduction of new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths, HIV and AIDS remains a major challenge especially among the youth.
Considering the funding constraints occasioned by, amongst others, decreased funding from international partners, SADC and UNAIDS emphasised the urgent need for increased domestic investment in health and HIV and AIDS initiatives, underscoring the importance of fostering robust partnerships, particularly with the private sector, to enhance resource mobilization and ensure the sustainability of health programmes.
H.E. Magosi expressed gratitude to UNAIDS for the support in the development of Annual SADC HIV Progress Report which tracks progress on the implementation of agreed indicators and the development of the HIV Strategic Framework strategic document that provides technical guidance to SADC Member States on the implementation of HIV and AIDS Programmes. He also acknowledged the support of UNIAIDS and other Partners in the convening of National Health Financing dialogues, which offer a platform for national stakeholders to discuss and address challenges pertaining to health financing, including defining priorities and developing strategies to increase domestic resource mobilization.
H.E. Magosi highlighted that the reduction in funding for Health and HIV and AIDS programmes in the SADC region, which already bears the highest burden of HIV, threatens to reverse the gains the region has made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and called on Member States to renew their investment in Health and HIV and AIDS initiatives.
On her part, Her Excellency Anne Githuku-Shongwe reaffirmed UNAIDS’ commitment to collaborating with SADC in enhancing HIV prevention and maximizing domestic financing for HIV programs to ensure long-term sustainability. She emphasised the importance of ensuring long term sustainability of vital community health systems such as drop-in centres and community health clinics, which have played a crucial and positive role in the HIV and AIDS response.
As part of the drive towards sustainable financing of Health and HIV and AIDS programmes for health and HIV and AIDS in the region, SADC with support from UNAIDS, is scheduled to hold a Joint Meeting of Ministers of Health and Ministers of Finance to discuss innovative financing mechanism to address heath financing constraints.
The Executive Secretary of SADC was accompanied by the Director of Social and Human Development at the SADC Secretariat, Ms. Duduzile Simelane and the Programme Officer for HIV and AIDS Ms Nomenzile Mamba. The UNAIDS Regional Director was accompanied by Mr. Alankar Malviya – UNAIDS Country Director in Botswana and Ms Gloria Bille - Senior Regional Programme Adviser- Prevention.
