UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima to visit Zambia

The Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Winnie Byanyima, will visit Zambia from 7–10 June 2022 for high-level meetings with Government, Cooperating Partners, Civil Society, and grassroots organisations in support of Zambia’s continued efforts to curb HIV infections and ensure access to treatment to all who need it across the country.

This visit is an important moment. Zambia has a significant HIV epidemic with more than 1.5 million people living with HIV in the country, 1.17 million of whom were on life-saving antiretroviral treatment as at the end 2020. Zambia has reaffirmed its global commitments to end inequalities and end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

“This visit could not have come at a better time as the United Nations in Zambia is getting ready to launch its new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for support from 2023 to 2027, that is aligned to the Government’s 8th National Development Plan. We are more determined than ever to support and leave no one behind,” said UNAIDS Zambia Country Director, Dr Tharcisse Barihuta.

Discussions around youth empowerment, addressing inequalities, and removing barriers to accessing services, and related topics will remain among the top priorities for Ms Byanyima to address, who is a strong advocate for community-led responses that centre around community participation and human rights.

“We know how to end AIDS, but it’s the social issues, propelled by stigma, discrimination, inequalities and unequal access to health and social services, treatment and support which are holding us back – we have to break these barriers to reach everyone in need,” Dr Barihuta added.

Zambia has made important progress and reached significant milestones, including strong progress towards the goal of the 90-90-90 targets. However, the numbers of new infections remain high despite the consistent reduction among general population and among young women.

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CONTACT:

Dr. Tharcisse Barihuta, Country Director, UNAIDS Zambia, E: barihutaT@unaids.org

UNAIDS Geneva | Sophie Barton-Knott | tel. +41 79 514 68 96 | bartonknotts@unaids.org

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.