AIDS is not over. As @USAmbPEPFAR has said: Africa remains the continent with the highest burden. More people probably died of #AIDS-related illnesses in 2021 than COVID on this continent.
-at the @NEPAD_Agency High Level Event on Health Financing at @_AfricanUnion #AUSummit
We celebrate our progress - over last 12 years or so, Africa is the continent that has made the fastest progress reducing new HIV infections & stopping AIDS-related deaths. We still have a challenge, and financing is critical part of it.
@NEPAD_Agency @_AfricanUnion #AUSummit2023
We have been successful because of the political leadership of my predecessor @MichelSidibe who had foresight that @_AfricanUnion is the place where to mobilise political leadership to fight AIDS, forming strategic partnership w/AUC & Head of State to commit to targets. #AUSummit
Our success in the AIDS fight has come through the support of the international community, @UN, of external partners like @GlobalFund & @PEPFAR, and local communities. Special thanks to 🇺🇸 Government for their #PEPFAR program, celebrating 20 years of saving lives. #36thAUSummit
However, shifting so that Africa can self-fund its own HIV response is critical. First we must address our debt problem: as debt has mounted, cuts have come in area of health, education & social protection.
#AUSummit2023
2nd: we currently tax regressively, so that the tax policies in most of our countries are widening inequalities, instead of reducing them. Africa is the continent with lowest wealth taxes in the world. We can shift tax policies to raise more resources by taxing the rich.#AUSummit
Universal Health Coverage is another opportunity for African self-reliance, creating national insurance schemes where resources are collected & insurance is rolled out for all those who cannot afford it. This must include HIV services, PLHIV are citizens like any other! #AUSummit
Finally, we must invest in local production. This is critical now because 95% of our health commodities are imported. We have to produce health technologies here—they will be cheaper, with lower transport costs and paid for by our own financing. I am hopeful for this! #AUSummit
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