ACHEST represented at the UNAIDS Ministerial meeting
Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde, the Director of Health workforce, Education and Development represented African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) at the UNAIDS Ministerial held on1st February 2016.
The main objective of the ministerial meeting was to generate commitment and action to ensure human resources for health for the 90-90-90 target and strengthen health systems beyond HIV.
The 90-90-90- target aims at laying the foundation to end HIV AIDS by 2030, by having 90% of the people living with HIV diagnosed i.e. Knowing their status, 90% on treatment and 90% virally suppressed. This will therefore produce profound and lasting economic benefits by enhancing productivity, avert future treatment costs and improve social and economic outcomes.
From the presentations, panel discussions by ministers as well as discussions from participants, the meeting highlighted the most serious obstacle to greater progress in health– including the health-related targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 – as the severe shortage of human resources for health.
It was noted that in virtually every low and middle-income country, the demand for health services outstrips the supply of the health workforce to deliver essential health interventions and the findings of the Africa Health Strategy 2007–2015, spearheaded by the African Union, recognize the health workforce as the core component of effective health systems.
Therefore the global push to end the AIDS epidemic while building robust human resources for health will be needed to achieve bold new health and development goals. The meeting came up with draft recommendations that will be finalized and adopted in health systems endeavors.
It was noted that in virtually every low and middle-income country, the demand for health services outstrips the supply of the health workforce to deliver essential health interventions and the findings of the Africa Health Strategy 2007–2015, spearheaded by the African Union, recognize the health workforce as the core component of effective health systems.
Therefore the global push to end the AIDS epidemic while building robust human resources for health will be needed to achieve bold new health and development goals. The meeting came up with draft recommendations that will be finalized and adopted in health systems endeavors.