By Michael Gwarisa
A new Global Parliamentary Platform on HIV and AIDS has been established at the ongoing International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany in a bid to build momentum to end AIDS ahead of the 2030 target.
The new platform is set to provide the space, tools, and other resources to unite, strengthen, and amplify the leadership of parliamentarians committed to ending AIDS and new HIV transmissions.
From Zimbabwe, over 20 Members of Parliament (MPs) mainly from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care led by Hon Josiah Makombe, and members from the TB Caucus will represent the country on the platform.
Representing Zimbabwe in Munich are Honourable Daniel Molokele from the Zimbabwean TB Caucus, Dr Ruth Labode former health committee chair and Dr Donald Tobaiwa from the Civil Society Organization (CSO) sector.
Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes, Hon Daniel Molokele said the establishment of the Global Parliamentary Platform on HIV and AIDS marks a significant step forward in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
As the Zimbabwe TB Caucus, we recognise that TB and HIV are intricately linked, and by joining forces to tackle HIV, we can also make strides against TB – the leading killer of people with HIV,” said Hon Molokele.
“We must seize this opportunity to address both diseases together to save lives. We commend my fellow MPs for their leadership and commitment to this critical issue and look forward to collaborating with all players involved to ensure a comprehensive response to the co-epidemic of TB and HIV.”
The Platform is hosted by a secretariat formed of the Unite Parliamentarians Network, the Global TB Caucus, and the Global Equality Caucus. The International AIDS Society, UNAIDS, STOPAIDS, and WACI Health also support it.
Dr Tobaiwa applauded the GPP and rallied the MPs to advocate and mobilise domestic financial resources to end HIV and TB.
“I challenge the platform to push for Global policy reforms that affect access to Health services eg local pharmaceutical production and TRIPPs flexibility and also to mobilise resources for CSOs’ parliamentary interface and to push for increased domestic financing,” said Dr Tobaiwa.
Meanwhile, 370 Parliamentarians from 45 countries have signed the Founding Declaration at the 2024 International AIDS Conference in Munich, pledging to work with communities, civil society, governments, institutions and multilaterals to build the necessary democratic and political pressure for a more determined HIV response.
