Brazzaville, 3 November 2005 -- Representatives of WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNIFEM today began a consultation in Brazzaville on ways of supporting countries to accelerate the prevention of HIV infection in the African Region in 2006. 

Speaking at the opening of the consultation, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, said that the magnitude of the challenge posed by HIV was illustrated by the fact that in 2004 alone three million Africans, half of them aged between 14 and 24, were infected with the virus.

He told participants that “strong partnerships” needed to be forged in order to attain and sustain the type of massive scale up of efforts required to prevent the spread of the virus in the region where 2006 has been declared “The Year for Acceleration of HIV Prevention.”

Of the HIV/AIDS pandemic itself, Dr Sambo said: “The disease is seriously threatening the development and security of our Region. In particular it is disproportionately affecting women and young girls, deepening poverty at household level, creating a vicious cycle that is making individuals more prone to the epidemic and reducing the economic productivity of Member States in the African Region.”

In his remarks, the Director of Country and Regional Support at UNAIDS, Mr. Michele Sidibe, commended the initiative of the WHO Regional Office for Africa for organizing the consultation at a time when it was becoming increasingly clear that prevention of HIV was key to controlling the spread of the virus.

Mr Sidibe stated that there was commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention and globally, as evidenced by the increased availability of resources to fight the disease. However, these resources should be translated into services and results at county level, he said.

He added that “roadmaps” for preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS should be country-specific and that Member States should introduce legislation and policies that protect the most vulnerable groups in society.

Speaking in a similar vein, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Per Engebak, also praised WHO for taking the lead in galvanizing partners to accelerate HIV prevention in the Region. 

He said that in view of the high proportion of youth being infected with HIV, “it is of imperative necessity that young people be empowered to take charge over their sexuality.”

The seven participating Agencies are expected to adopt a declaration committing them to intensifying their support for the HIV prevention agenda; mobilizing national and regional leadership for more focused and concrete action; assisting with the mobilization of resources; advocating for the action of other sectors, organizations and stakeholders; and providing technical support for national programmes, especially through the strengthening of health systems in Member States.

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