L’Initiative is committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030—one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This includes access to testing and prevention, combating discrimination, providing psychosocial and economic support for people living with HIV, and offering PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and treatments to prevent infection with the virus. L’Initiative acts on all fronts of the disease.
- 65%
dedicated to the HIV response
- 204
- 8
L’Initiative, fully committed to the AIDS response
Although significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV, 650,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2023. Three major challenges remain: access to prevention and treatment services—hampered for the most marginalized people and in low-income countries—; the sustainability of national and international funding; and both virological resistance and societal resistance, as stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV continue.
L’Initiative is committed to the issue of pediatric HIV. The epidemic particularly affects children, who are more vulnerable to the disease—every five minutes, a child dies from HIV worldwide. It is crucial to focus efforts on preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus. While pediatric treatments exist, barely more than half of children living with HIV have access to them. L’Initiative is mobilizing for a world without new pediatric infections and to ensure that children living with HIV can receive appropriate care.
Another pillar of L’Initiative’s commitment focuses on women’s health, particularly the management of human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. HPV is a risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. Women living with HIV are six times more at risk than the general female population.
The support of L’Initiative in the fight against HIV
This fourth issue of the Key Figures analyzes L’Initiative’s actions against HIV (2011-2024), their results, geographical priorities, targeted approaches, and the strengthening of health systems for vulnerable populations. Document only available in French.
The need for multisectoral and integrated health approaches
The triple elimination of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa—the region of the world most affected by HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and syphilis—co-infection of these three diseases is common, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission and complications at birth. To achieve the goals of global strategies for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of these infections, L’Initiative supports two projects. Deployed in Burkina Faso, Gambia, and Guinea, these projects are part of the “triple elimination” strategy proposed by the WHO, based on an integrated approach. The goal is to strengthen mother-to-child transmission prevention by improving access to care, screening, and management of the three diseases for pregnant women.
The fight against AIDS at all ages
Sidaction: “2030 must be a true milestone in the eradication of HIV”
On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2024, Hélène Roger reaffirmed the association’s commitment to eradicating the pandemic by 2030. The Director of Sidaction’s Analysis and Advocacy Division highlighted critical issues such as pediatric HIV and the need to strengthen advocacy efforts. She also discussed the longstanding collaboration between Sidaction and L’Initiative, emphasizing their shared goal of enhancing the impact of actions in the fight against HIV.
Project Passerelles: supporting young people living with HIV
Strengthening the skills of healthcare personnel
The response to advanced HIV
630,000 people die from HIV worldwide each year, despite the expanded access to antiretroviral therapies. Many patients arrive at healthcare facilities with advanced HIV. A specific treatment protocol can save them, provided that doctors are well trained and have access to the appropriate tests and care. With the support of L’Initiative, the Global Fund, and the World Health Organization, a team of doctors has developed a dedicated “toolkit” (document only available in French). David Masson, a pediatrician specializing in HIV, contributed to its development.
Supporting young professionals in the HIV response through the IAS mentorship program
Strengthening community services for SRH
Against HIV, PrEP protects the most vulnerable
For individuals particularly exposed to HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, is a proven prevention method. This treatment almost completely reduces the risk of infection. The “PrEP Femmes” project promotes the deployment of PrEP among sex workers in Morocco and Mali, as well as transgender women and partners of people who inject drugs in Mauritius. Dr. Lahoucine Ouarsas outlines the key issues of the project.
Advocacy and the fight against stigma—cornerstones of the HIV response
La Fabrique des dialogues: professionalizing advocacy in the fight against AIDS
