Key outcomes of AU Summit on HIV, TB and Malaria

It took place in Abuja from 12-17 July 2013 and reviewed progress report (2010-2012) of the ‘Implementation of the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action towards Universal Access to HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services’ The meeting observed that: Africa remains one of the most affected regions in the world by HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and […]

It took place in Abuja from 12-17 July 2013 and reviewed progress report (2010-2012) of the ‘Implementation of the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action towards Universal Access to HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services’
The meeting observed that:
Africa remains one of the most affected regions in the world by HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria and of the 34 million people living with HIV across the world at the end of 2011, 69% live in Africa. Around 1 in 20 adults in Africa are living with HIV. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there were about 219 million cases of malaria in 2010 and about 90% of the estimated 660 000 deaths from malaria in that year occurred in Africa. Africa also carries a large burden of the TB disease with 30% of the approximately 9 million new TB cases each year and 9 of the 22 most affected countries coming from Africa.
HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria are ranked amongst the most devastating contagious diseases in the world and the links between poverty, development, HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria are well recognized. In Africa, where almost 50% of the continent’s populations continue to live in poverty, it is clear that health is not only a precondition for, but also an outcome and indicator of economic, social and environmental development. HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria affect many of the poorest and most marginalized, thriving in conditions of poverty, family displacement, violence, poor nutrition, overcrowding and situations of limited access to prevention, treatment, care and support services.
The African Union (AU) has repeatedly declared the three diseases as a State of Emergency on the African continent, constituting major threats to national and continental socio-economic development, peace and security. In 2000 and 2001, the leaders of AU Member States adopted the Abuja Declarations and Action Frameworks on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) and on HIV and AIDS, TB and other infectious diseases. The Declarations committed AU Member States to working individually and collectively to halt the spread of HIV, AIDS, TB and malaria and to achieve the target set by Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6.
The progress report (2010-2012) highlighted significant findings worth mentioning here even though not all of them. In the area of ‘Leadership at National, Regional and Continental Level’, it revealed that Since the Abuja Declaration, there have been a number of efforts at continental, regional and national level to provide leadership and to support responses to HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria across Africa. These have included AU initiatives to develop continental policy frameworks, strategies, plans and campaigns, mobilize resources and consolidate partnerships around HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria as well as various initiatives by RECs and regional health organizations to mobilize, support and harmonize responses in law, policy and programmes within their regions for all the three diseases. At national level, AU Member States have set up national coordinating bodies for HIV, TB and malaria.
The period 2010 to 2012 has seen signs of continued as well as renewed commitment to HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria at continental level. In 2012, AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) was revived as a platform for advocacy, resource mobilization and accountability of Heads of State and Government for HIV, TB and malaria and the Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity for AIDS, TB and Malaria Response in Africa was approved. All AU Member States are now members of AWA. The Action Committee of AWA, consisting of champions from Heads of State and Government and the President of the AUC, reiterated their commitment to the Abuja Call in July 2012 in Addis Ababa.
One of the recommendations was to improve governance and co-ordination at all levels in order to ensure ownership, good governance and accountability for HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. This recommendation actually stirred the nest because almost all the funding to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa is donor driven. How could we ensure ownership if we can’t fund the programmes?
Another area in the report findings was on Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting and it revealed that the AU Member States have committed to strengthening monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the three diseases and a monitoring and reporting mechanism, including target indicators, has been developed for reporting in terms of the Abuja Call. The limited reporting by countries (only 10 having reported) for the period 2010 to 2012, however, is a cause for concern, seriously undermining continental efforts to monitor progress and effectively respond to HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. Of the 10 countries reporting for this period, only 3 indicated that they had a national monitoring and evaluation plan for each disease in place.
Among the recommendation was to improve and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation systems of regional and continental initiatives in general and in the fight against the three diseases. In conclusion, as citizens of AU, it is also our responsibility to maintain vigilance and continue to ask relevant questions to our leaders to do the right thing in addressing the scourge of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
All comments to Dr Aminu Magashi at [email protected]