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Supported by robust advocacy initiatives to achieve policy reform, AHF ensures equitable access to HIV and public health services globally
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) (www.AIDSHealth.org) proudly announces a transformative milestone: delivering life-saving HIV prevention, care, and treatment to 2.5 million people across 49 countries, with 1.3 million in 15 African nations (https://apo-opa.co/45zIVFg). This achievement transcends numbers, embodying restored hope, preserved families, and a bold vision for a healthier, equitable world.
AHF’s contribution to the HIV response that has enabled countries like Malawi to see a remarkable increase in life expectancy from 46 to 67 years over a 25-year period is profound. Children who may have been orphaned due to HIV can now grow up with their parents present, and communities are thriving through access to quality care. This story can be told in several countries, and it reflects AHF’s unwavering commitment to transforming lives and achieving global HIV control.
” AHF is tackling STIs, hunger, homelessness, and the global HIV epidemic with relentless resolve “
Founded in 1987 in Los Angeles as the AIDS Hospice Foundation, AHF has grown into the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization. With over 8,000 dedicated staff, AHF delivers expert, compassionate, and non-judgmental care to all, regardless of ability to pay. Supported by robust advocacy initiatives to achieve policy reform, AHF ensures equitable access to HIV and public health services globally.
AHF President Michael Weinstein shared, “When we began, I never imagined we’d touch 2.5 million lives. This milestone, born of our staff’s courage and our patients’ trust, demands recognition. As George Bernard Shaw said, ‘You see things; and say, Why? But I dream of things that never were and I say, Why not?’ Our dream—delivering exceptional care to all—has become reality. We’ve stayed true to our principles, proving hope can shine in a challenging world. Yet, our journey continues. AHF is tackling STIs, hunger, homelessness, and the global HIV epidemic with relentless resolve. I’m deeply honored to serve alongside our extraordinary team.”
“When we launched our first global programs in South Africa and Uganda in 2002, serving 100 clients in each country, we could never have fathomed expanding to 13 more African countries and caring for 1.3 million lives across the continent,” said Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF’s Executive Vice President . “Building on years of advocacy and innovation, AHF Africa now delivers programs that go beyond clinical care to include community-led prevention, equitable access strategies, and pandemic preparedness. These successes reflect the deep collaboration with government and civil society partners that has enabled us to reach the most marginalized, advance equity, and ensure no one is left behind.”
Dr. Nombuso Madonsela, who leads AHF’s largest country program as AHF South Africa Country Program Director, adds, “Being part of this historic milestone is a privilege. AHF South Africa remains steadfast in championing combination prevention, reducing new infections, and ensuring quality service delivery and support for all in our care. Through our Community Power Voices (CPV), we amplify the stories and triumphs of those living with HIV. Ending HIV is not just a dream, it’s a promise we are determined to keep.”
Looking forward, AHF is resolute in expanding access, dismantling barriers, and ensuring no one is left behind in the global fight against HIV. This milestone fuels AHF’s mission to push boundaries, innovate solutions, and build a future where HIV is no longer a threat.
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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