DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE AIDS WATCH AFRICA (AWA)
The Assembly,
RECALLS AU Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.395(XVIII) on the revitalization of AWA as an AU Heads of State and Government Advocacy and Accountability Platform, as well as mobilize resources to fight these diseases;
ALSO RECALLS Member States commitments to further strengthen their health systems and align their National Strategic Plans with the Africa Health Strategy and the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030;
FURTHER RECALLS the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases of 2001 during which AIDS was considered as a state of emergency in the continent and placed the fight against HIV/AIDS at the forefront and as the highest priority issue in our respective national development plans;
TAKES NOTE that 2021 will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases and that this provides the opportunity to undertake a critical review of the situation and the consequences of these diseases in Africa;
ALSO TAKES NOTE of the 2019 AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Report and the recommendations contained therein;
NOTES the continued efforts by AU Member States and partners in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria, and URGES them to redouble their efforts to end these three diseases as public health threats by 2030 in line with the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and eliminate Malaria targets;
NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of the Africa Leadership Meeting - Investing in Health;
COMMENDS the 24 AU Member States which have pledged 75.2 million USD to the 6th Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Replenishment;
REQUESTS the Commission and relevant partners to report on the status of implementation of the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.
FURTHER REQUESTS the African Union Commission to update the AWA Concept Document (2012-2015) for the period 2020-2023;
ENDORSES the 2019 Tuberculosis scorecard and URGES Member States to accelerate efforts in addressing Tuberculosis threats in Africa.