Staff Writer
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator His Excellency Edward Kallon, says political commitment, increased financing, innovation, research, and advocacy for human rights and gender equality are key to addressing underlying factors contributing to the spread of HIV.
Speaking at ICASA Opening: AIDS is not over – Address Inequalities, accelerate inclusion and innovation in Harare, Mr Kallon said by addressing these areas, Zimbabwe can overcome barriers and accelerate progress towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic and STIs.
“The UN Summit on the Prevention of Future Pandemics reaffirms the interconnectedness of health challenges. By adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to global health, we can strengthen health systems and respond more effectively to HIV/AIDS and future pandemics.
“Universal Health Coverage plays a pivotal role in our response to HIV/AIDS, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, has access to essential health services, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care,” Mr Kallon said.
“This requires investment at community and grassroots level including addressing Inequalities, Accelerating Inclusion, and Innovation.
“I can assure you, you have come to the right place where you can take leaf from Zimbabwe’s approach of community engagement and devolved innovation hubs not only to ending AIDS, STIs and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I wish you all a successful deliberation.”
He said HIV/AIDS remains a threat to socioeconomic progress and has the potential to destabilize society and hinder human development.
“Addressing the underlying factors contributing to the spread of HIV, such as gender inequality and practices that perpetuate sexual and gender-based violence, is crucial,” he said.
“As we deliberate on ICASA, comprehensive and reliable funding, as well as capacity-building support, are critical to delivering inclusive and quality services.
“Furthermore, creating an enabling environment that facilitates community involvement in decision-making and protects the human rights of all, especially marginalized and key populations, is of paramount importance.”
About Author
