UNICEF South Africa’s Post

Throwback Time👏 Sometime last year I had an incredible chat with Rubén Pagés on our Engage Us. Our Health. Our Rights. Docu-series Campaign shot in Botswana and Nigeria and led by the Youth Advisory Group supported by Vibrant Young Voices Consortium (The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa and Y+ Global). The purpose of this campaign is to amplify young voices in decision-making about health policies and services. 🗣️ Key Takeaways: 1. Nothing About Us, Without Us: Ruben emphasizes the power of this phrase. Young people deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made about their health. 2. Meaningful Engagement: It’s not enough to have tokenistic involvement. Ruben shares how genuine engagement leads to better health outcomes. 3. Benefits for All: When young people actively participate, health services improve for everyone. Ruben discussed the ripple effect of youth engagement. 🎥 Watch the Chat: https://lnkd.in/djrPGtHy #EngageUs.#OurHealth.#Our Rights - VYV Chats with UNICEF Botswana Let’s continue advocating for youth health and rights! 🌟🗣️ Kudos to Rubén Pagés and UNICEF Botswana for their impactful work! 🙌🇧🇼

"Communities understand what is most needed, what works, and what needs to change. Communities have not waited to be handed their leadership roles— they have taken the roles on themselves and held fast in their insistence on doing so. They have applied their skills and determination. Letting communities lead builds healthier and stronger societies" Let Communities Lead - UNAIDS World AIDS Day report 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ #WorldAIDSDay #EndAIDS2030 #RockTheRibbon #LetCommunitiesLead UNAIDS | USAID | Family AIDS Caring Trust-FACT | Zvandiri | International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)

As we approach #AIDS2024, and continue to navigate the complexities of global health, the fight against AIDS remains a crucial challenge that demands our unwavering attention and collective action. AIDS has affected millions of lives worldwide, but through research, innovative financing, public-private partnerships, advocacy, and community efforts, we are making significant strides towards ending this epidemic. Every step forward is a testament to the resilience and determination of those who are dedicated to this cause. As we reflect on our progress, let’s renew our commitment to ending AIDS once and for all. Together, we can build a healthier and more equitable world. #IAS2024 #AIDS2024 #Germany #Munich

When the communities take the lead, It paves the way for a more sustainable, inclusive, and effective response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It enables tailored strategies that consider cultural nuances, reducing stigma, and promoting inclusivity. By actively involving affected communities , the initiative works towards dismantling discriminatory practices and fostering an environment of acceptance. It is important to understand that the role of local communities is crucial in shaping and driving efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It underscores the importance of community engagement, empowerment, and collaboration to achieve the ambitious goal of ending AIDS by 2030. This can be traced to how communities have been playing a central role in raising awareness, promoting prevention, providing support, and advocating for policies that address the unique challenges faced by the most affected by HIV/AIDS despite the setbacks. By involving communities directly, it fosters local solutions, tailoring interventions to specific needs. One thing that excites me about this approach is that it ensures cultural relevance, increasing the high likelihood of sustained engagement in HIV prevention, treatment, and support programs. Communities must take the lead to ensure that no person die of AIDS. It is no longer a news that community-led efforts create a more resilient and responsive foundation to achieve the ambitious goal of ending AIDS by 2030. Funders , stakeholders and implementating partners need to recognize the value of community-led efforts and actively collaborate with grassroots organizations. By investing in community-driven projects, funders need to contribute to building self-reliant, resilient communities capable of sustaining HIV/AIDS prevention and support initiatives beyond external aid. Stakeholders should actively seek partnerships that amplify community voices and enhance their capacities. This will further contribute a holistic and comprehensive approach towards ending AIDS by 2030. Funders need to unite in funding and supporting community-led initiatives, ensuring that no one is left behind in our collective journey to end AIDS by 2030. USAID The Global Fund Hivos ViiV Healthcare Initiative Sankofa d'Afrique de l'Ouest (ISDAO) Aidsfonds Elton John AIDS Foundation The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) NEPWHAN United Nations World Health Organization Outright International UNAIDS

Responding to GBV using LIVES - First Line Support. I was first trained on LIVES while implementing the USAID Afya Ziwani Project in 2019 as a Project Associate. USAID Afya Ziwani was a service delivery project at the County level that provided HIV services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Homa Bay, Kisumu and Migori Counties at that time. This was through a PATH Kenya-led consortium of Kenyan non-governmental organizations including National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE). LIVES (Listen, Inquire, Validate, Enhance safety, and Support) is a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. 1) Listen closely, with empathy and without judgement. 2) Inquire about needs. 3) Validate women’s experiences. Show you believe and understand. 4) Enhance their safety. 5) Support women to connect with additional services. Healthcare Providers have Respond to Gender-Based Violence using this method effectively. This reflection is my way of launching the #YALI16DaysOfActivism. I hope I can highlight how women and girls bare the greatest brunt of Climate Change through GBV in my next post. YALI RLC EA Alumni Ke YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa.

“No single entity, no single government, no single NGO, no single academic institution can effectively address the challenges we are confronting in isolation." Dr. JEAN KASEYA, Director General, Africa CDC 54 countries, 41 in Africa, are off-track to achieving the SDG target of reducing under-five mortality to less than 25 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030. As African health leaders meet at #CPHIA2023 to reposition Africa in the global health architecture, staying on track with SDG 3.2 must be a priority. And we cannot do it alone, join us: https://bit.ly/joinchtf #HealthForAll  #ChildSurvivalAction #StopPneumonia #StopMalaria #EveryBreathCounts

#EndFGM - On this International day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM), did you know that girls today are one-third less likely to be subjected to FGM compared to 30 years ago? However, progress needs to accelerate to meet the global target of eliminating FGM by 2030.   In 2024, nearly 4.4 million girls – more than 12,000 each day – are at risk of female genital mutilation worldwide.   In Burkina Faso, Enabel worked hand in hand with communities, local women's associations, NGOs and ministries to optimize the awareness-raising strategy and eradicate the practice.     Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/enET3egE   #EnablingChange #HerVoiceMatters #SGD5 World Health Organization - United Nations

A game changer for Sierra Leone, thanks to UNICEF in partnership with La Caixa Foundation

This status report shows how far we have come—and how much further we must go—if we hope to meet the global commitments to end #AIDS in children. It offers a snapshot of global progress and permits an early assessment of the impact of the Global Alliance’s work. This report highlights the transformative work that is being undertaken in Global Alliance countries to accelerate gains towards ending AIDS in children, underscoring the urgent need to apply good practices, emerging innovations and critical lessons learned to overcome the barriers that slow progress. Transforming Vision Into Reality: The 2024 Global Alliance Progress Report on Ending AIDS in Children by 2030. Join us on our journey! 🌐 🌍 📧: info@tajpharma.com #EndAIDS2030 #GlobalAllianceEndAIDS #AsiaPacific 📝. Report: transforming-vision-into-reality_en.pdf (childrenandaids.org)