UNAIDS chief urges Africa health sovereignty

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima called for 'radical change' in African health financing at an African Union health summit in Accra, Ghana, following deep cuts to international aid. She noted that Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS lost about 25% of its funding last year after the US dismantled USAID and other Western countries slashed foreign assistance. Byanyima urged African governments to reprioritize health spending, invest in local pharmaceutical production, and work towards health sovereignty. She also warned that increasing criminalization of LGBTQ rights in several African countries is driving people away from HIV testing and treatment. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 64% of global HIV infections and 60% of new infections. Byanyima highlighted the new long-acting injectable lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, which reduces HIV transmission risk by 99.9%, but noted that only 6,000 people in five African countries are receiving it, far short of the 20 million needed. Unitaid announced that a South African laboratory will produce a generic version of lenacapavir.