The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a bold new national initiative aimed at eliminating AIDS among children by 2030 - a move hailed by the United Nations as "a beacon of hope" amid growing global funding constraints.
"Our country can no longer tolerate children being born and growing up with HIV, when tools exist to prevent, detect and effectively treat this infection," President Félix Tshisekedi declared at a recent government conference in the south-eastern Lualaba province, as he launched the five-year initiative.
Backed by an initial commitment of $18 million in national funds, the Presidential Initiative to End Pediatric AIDS will focus on political leadership, systems strengthening and inclusive healthcare access particularly for children, adolescents, and pregnant women.
It also aligns well with DRC's global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
Children lagging behind
The initiative marks a renewed commitment by the DRC to address children's extremely limited access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
While the DRC has made notable strides in adult HIV response - 91 per cent of adults living with HIV now have access to antiretroviral treatment - children continue to lag far behind.
