Despite two decades of progress, Africa remains the region most affected by HIV/AIDS, accounting for the majority of people living with the virus and new infections worldwide. To achieve the African Union’s goal of ending this public health threat by 2030, the AU Extraordinary Summit on Health was held on 21 and 22 July 2026 in Accra. Bringing together Heads of State, ministers, and international partners, the event focused on ending HIV/AIDS, eliminating preventable maternal deaths, combating endemic diseases, and strengthening health systems across the continent.
Africa remains the region most affected by HIV/AIDS. Despite two decades of progress, the continent continues to bear the largest share of global infections. Ending this threat by 2030, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, remains a major but achievable challenge. It was within this context that the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Health was held on 21 and 22 July 2026 in Accra. Focused on ending HIV/AIDS, eliminating preventable maternal deaths, addressing endemic diseases, and strengthening health systems, the summit brought together Heads of State, ministers, partners, and international health institutions.
This extraordinary session gives us the opportunity to reaffirm that health is not only a development priority, but also a strategic investment in Africa’s most immediate asset: its people, its economic transformation, and its sustainable development. As Chairperson of the African Union, I call on all Member States to adopt the Accra Declaration as a renewed continental commitment aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union’s roadmap towards 2030 and beyond. As my brother Dramani Mahama also rightly emphasized, the Accra Declaration commits us to strengthening political leadership, increasing domestic investments in health, building resilient health systems, improving accountability, and ensuring equitable access to quality health services for every African citizen.”
Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, “President of the Republic, Chairperson of the African Union – Burundi
Against a backdrop of declining health funding, participants called for increased investments, stronger cooperation, and innovative solutions to consolidate the gains made in the HIV response. The summit provided an opportunity to assess progress achieved, identify remaining challenges, and establish strategic priorities to accelerate the achievement of health-related Sustainable Development Goals.For the global HIV response by 2030, UNAIDS estimates that annual funding needs stand at 21.9 billion USD dollars in low- and middle-income countries, with priority attention given to sub-Saharan Africa.
“Despite a 40% decline in new HIV infections since 2010, Africa continues to carry the heaviest health burden amid declining external funding. Maternal health, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and non-communicable diseases form a single interconnected crisis, worsened by weak health systems and conflicts. In Bunia, Ituri, fighting has contributed to the spread of the Ebola outbreak by disrupting contact tracing and threatening healthcare workers. We must address the root causes of conflicts, poverty, lack of education, water insecurity, and gender inequalities while prioritizing health”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia
Medical advances and expanded access to antiretroviral treatment now allow millions of people living with HIV to lead healthy lives while reducing transmission. However, major obstacles remain, including inequalities in access to healthcare, medicine shortages, insufficient funding, weak health systems, and humanitarian crises. In addition, stigma and discrimination continue to hinder HIV testing and treatment follow-up, leaving women, adolescent girls, and vulnerable populations at greater risk.
“The quality and rigor of the documents submitted for our consideration demonstrate an exemplary institutional synergy that we should commend and continue to encourage. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, dear participants, our session comes at a critical moment. The significant progress achieved across the continent unfortunately coexists with structural vulnerabilities that require a determined and committed response. Africa, which is home to nearly 17% of the world’s population, still carries 24% of the global disease burden, while having less than 3% of the world’s health workforce and accounting for barely 1% of global health expenditure. These imbalances are unsustainable and require us to embrace innovation and concrete solidarity.”
EDOUARD BIZIMANA, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Burundi
Ending AIDS in Africa by 2030 does not necessarily mean completely eradicating HIV, but rather achieving sustained control of the epidemic so that it no longer represents a major public health threat. This objective requires consistent political commitment, sustained investment, and collective action. Through coordinated and equitable efforts, Africa can accelerate progress and move closer to a generation free from AIDS.
