UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, on 26 November in Malabo. During the meeting, Mr Sidibé stressed the need for Equatorial Guinea to decentralize HIV testing and access to treatment to the district level.
With HIV prevalence estimated at 6.2% in 2014, Equatorial Guinea has taken steps to scale up its response to HIV. The country is fully funding its HIV response and access to treatment is free of charge. The opening of additional health centres has allowed Equatorial Guinea to scale up its programme to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Estimated coverage of pregnant women who access antiretroviral medicines increased from 61% in 2011 to 74% in 2014.
The President said the country is committed to working closely with UNAIDS towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. He thanked UNAIDS for opening an office in Equatorial Guinea.
During his visit to the country from 25 to 26 November, Mr Sidibé signed a host agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also met the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and the minister in charge of HIV.
“It is Equatorial Guinea’s duty to end the AIDS epidemic in the country, and we will accelerate our efforts with UNAIDS’ support.”
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea
“If the two largest cities in the country, Malabo and Bata, implement the test and treat strategy, Equatorial Guinea can sharply reduce the number of new HIV infections.”
Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director
