Government, international and multilateral organizations, civil society organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders have pledged support to join the global effort to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The launch of the new UNAIDS 2016–2021 Global Strategy took place in Ada, Ghana, Monday, November 23, 2015 on the side-lines of the Annual Retreat of the Ghana Joint United Nations Team on AIDS (JUTA).

The strategy is the first in the United Nations’ system to be aligned to the new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set the framework for global development policy over the next 15 years, including ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

With a universal agenda, firmly grounded on evidence and rights-based approaches, the strategy maps out the UNAIDS Fast-Track approach to accelerate the AIDS response over the next five years to reach critical HIV prevention and treatment targets and achieve zero discrimination.

Dubbed “90-90-90 Fast Track Target”, the strategy will ensure that by year 2020:

• 90% of all persons living with HIV know their HIV status;
• 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained; antiretroviral therapy, and;
• 90% of all receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression

Participants underlined the importance of innovative ways to foster partnerships in tackling the complex interconnected development and health challenges.

Dominic Sam

In his opening address the Officer-in-Charge UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Country Director, Dominic Sam,  commended government of Ghana for maintaining prevalence at a very low rate since 2003.

He called for an urgent priority “to identify bottlenecks that are preventing people from accessing HIV prevention and treatment services” adding, “the countdown has begun and it requires that we do things differently to achieve better results”.

Government of Ghana on its part pledged commitment to being available to UNAIDS and its partners through this process.

Dzifa Gomashie 

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie-Ahiaglo, who represented the Government of Ghana said, “it is possible for every sector to collaborate to change the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana".

She also commended UNAIDS Country Director for giving Ghana a new face to AIDS and for the innovative prevention advocacy of the Ghana Protect the Goal Campaign, which has achieved remarkable leverage by promoting safe sex practices among the youth and with a special focus among the urban youth and middle class.

She also pledged to spearhead a campaign to recruit more HIV ambassadors especially for the JHS and SHS levels.

Country Director of UNAIDS Ghana, Girmay Haile, described the strategy as an “urgent call to accelerate progress towards ending the AIDS epidemic”.

He indicated that the target for the year 2020 is needed because targets drive progress and promote accountability to guide action beyond 2015.

He also pointed out, “it is an excellent time for Ghana to take full charge of its HIV Response and ensure that no one is left behind in having adequate access to HIV services.

Participants at the 

He also commended the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, for his visionary challenge to consider a 100-100-100 treatment target for Ghana by 2021 in its new National HIV Strategic Plan.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reflects the interdependence and complexity of a changing world and the imperative for global collective action. In shifting from so-called development for the poorest countries to sustainable development for all, the global agenda has expanded in scope and complexity.

As a set of indivisible goals, the SDGs give all stakeholders a mandate for integration of efforts. The AIDS response is no exception: the epidemic cannot be ended without addressing the determinants of health and vulnerability, and the holistic needs of people at risk of and living with HIV.

People living with HIV often live in fragile communities, and are most affected by discrimination, inequality and instability. Their concerns must be at the forefront of sustainable development efforts.

The AIDS response has advanced such issues as the right to health, gender equality, health information systems, service delivery platforms, commodity access and security and social protection.