In the fight to end AIDS, girls and young women matter

Former US President George W. Bush speaking during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of PEPFAR at the United States Institute of Peace on Feb 24, 2023, in Washington DC. — TNS

THE President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR – which has saved 25 million lives over the past 20 years and allowed 5.5 million babies to be born HIV-free – demonstrates what’s possible when leaders, countries and communities hold each other accountable and work together to advance health systems and increase access to care for vulnerable populations.

However, there’s more work to be done. Many of the babies born HIV-free are now adolescent girls or young women who once again face significant risk of HIV exposure. This group accounts for almost two-thirds of all new infections in sub-Saharan Africa.