Africa charged to take full ownership of its HIV response 

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) has marked its 35th anniversary on the sidelines of the ongoing International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), with renewed calls for Africa to take full ownership of its HIV response through health sovereignty. 

Director of ICASA, Mr. Luc Armand Bodea said, health sovereignty in Africa meant a lot to the new agenda that SAA was embracing with all countries in Africa “so that really we can be completely autonomous.” 

“We should not be expecting again or rely on funding from outside. We should be able to manufacture our own antiretroviral drugs, our own vaccines, and have sovereignty in our pharmaceutical companies, drug production and policies,” he said. 

Celebrated on the theme: “Celebrating 35 years of Advocacy, Science and African Leadership in the HIV Response”, the occasion brought together some of the founding figures of the organization who helped shape Africa’s early response to the HIV epidemic. 

Among the dignitaries present were the founding fathers of SAA, Dr. Peter Piot, Dr. Mpele and Professor Mbuk, who travelled from different parts of the world to witness how far the continent had come in the fight against HIV. 

During a panel discussion as part of the celebration, speakers shed light on the formation of the society, from its beginnings in 1989 when stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLWHIV) was high amidst challenges with access to treatment, when AIDS deaths were high to the gains made so far. 

Mr Bodea said moving forward, coordinated action among African governments would be critical to ending the HIV epidemic. 

He called on African leaders to work together rather than in isolation, with a particular focus on local production of key HIV prevention tools. 

The Director highlighted the need for Africa to begin manufacturing Lenacapavir-based products locally which had already been approved for use in South Africa, describing it as a crucial step towards ending HIV. 

“It is time that Africa manufactures the generic version here. With the Head of State of Ghana championing this agenda, other leaders will follow and it will become a reality in the coming years,” he said. 

Professor Souleymane Mboup, one of the founding fathers of SAA called for accelerated efforts to achieve the Abuja declaration for Africa. 

“24 years into the declaration, few countries in Africa have achieved that target so far and governments must step up efforts to allocate the 15 per cent of their national budget to health if we are to attain sovereignty,” he said. 

Founded 35 years ago, SAA has played a key role in shaping HIV and AIDS policies, research and advocacy across Africa, contributing significantly to improvements in treatment access, prevention and care on the continent. 

As part of the celebration, SAA awarded long serving individuals whose efforts had contributed significantly to their activities in the fight against HIV and AIDS on the continent. 

The 16 awardees selected from different countries including Ghana were recognized for their over 20 years of service to the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA). 

The 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025), which began on December 3-8 is organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA). 

It is on the theme; “Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated and Resilient Health Systems for Sustainable Responses to end HIV, Other Infectious Diseases, and Emerging Threats”. 

The five-day conference has about 3,000 delegates including global experts, policymakers, researchers, community advocates, partners and leaders from 85 African countries participating. 

Source: GNA 

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