Africa CDC, UNAIDS sign deal to strengthen HIV response, epidemic preparedness
The signing underscores a shared commitment by UNAIDS and Africa CDC to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a healthier, more resilient Africa.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The signing, which happened on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, aimed at strengthening Africa’s fight against HIV, expanding community health workforces, and enhancing the continent’s preparedness for epidemics and pandemics.
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In a statement, UNAIDS confirmed the signing and highlighted the significance of the partnership for Africa’s health systems.
Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, said the MoU represents a major step in reinforcing public health on the continent.
“UNAIDS has a major role to play. We are signing this MoU to send a strong message that Africa supports UNAIDS,” said Dr Kaseya.
“HIV remains a major public health issue in Africa. Africa CDC is a proud partner of UNAIDS.”
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, added that the collaboration would strengthen local health capacities and ensure sustainable HIV services.
“By joining forces, we can strengthen community health workforces, advance local manufacturing, and secure sustainable financing for HIV and broader health services. Together, we are laying the foundation for healthier, more equitable societies across Africa,” she said.
The MoU sets out joint action in several priority areas. A major focus is on expanding community health workforces by supporting the African Union’s 2017 Heads of State mandate on the Two Million Community Health Worker Initiative, with training, reskilling, and deployment of polyvalent health workers in hard-to-reach rural and emergency settings, alongside targeted outreach to populations most at risk of being left behind.
It also seeks to strengthen epidemic and pandemic preparedness by leveraging UNAIDS’ data and technical platforms alongside Africa CDC’s regulatory networks, ensuring access to quality, affordable HIV commodities, boosting local manufacturing of essential medicines, and promoting technology transfer.
Additionally, the partnership supports African Union member states in developing sustainable HIV responses integrated into national health systems. This includes domestic revenue mobilisation, the integration of HIV services into primary health care and national insurance schemes, and exploring innovative financing instruments such as debt relief mechanisms and blended financing.
Collaborative projects, staff secondments, and technical expertise sharing are also part of the MoU’s framework.
The signing underscores a shared commitment by UNAIDS and Africa CDC to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a healthier, more resilient Africa.
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