The National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) has announced that Kenya has been elected as the chair of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Program Coordinating Board for the year 2024.
The Chief Executive Officer of NSDCC Kenya Ruth Laibon Masha expressed Kenya’s gratitude on behalf of Cabinet Secretary Health Susan Nakhumicha for the honor.
Notably, Brazil and the Netherlands were elected as Vice Chair and Rapporteur, respectively.
NSDCC is mandated to manage the following syndemic diseases, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis and lung disease.
Also Read: HIV/AIDS Infection Rates Among Adolescents in Siaya County Decline by 84%
Kenya Lauds UNAIDS Report
Earlier, Doctor Ruth Laibon represented Kenya as the Vice Chair of the UNAIDS Board during the 53rd Program Coordinating Board at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
She commended the work the board was doing towards ending AIDS. Also, she asked the global community to unite towards this cause.
“Kenya urges the global community to unite with shared determination to achieve a genuine finish line in ending AIDS during the 53rd Program Coordinating Board at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland,” a statement from the board read in part.
Additionally, the Executive Director’s Report presented during the session highlighted successful global coordinated efforts that have averted 21 million deaths over the past three decades.
Also Read: Kenya Outlines Its Readiness To Host HIV/AIDS Conference
She emphasized the critical need for donors and member states to fully fund the program by providing successful examples of the work done in Kenya.
About UNAIDS
UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to its website, since it started operations in 1996, UNAIDS has led and inspired global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership to ultimately consign HIV to history.
It places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at the decision-making table and at the center of designing, delivering and monitoring the AIDS response.
“UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support needed to catalyze and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services,” notes the program.
