Belarus’ delegation Takes Part in the UNAIDS’ Program Coordinating Board
25.06.2020On June 23-25, 2020, the Program Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) held its 46th session. For the first time ever the event was organized in a virtual format with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of HIV responses at the global and country levels.
For reference: The Republic of Belarus was elected to the PCB, the main governing body of UNAIDS, for a second consecutive term for the period 2020-2022. The UNAIDS seeks to mobilize and coordinate the work of relevant UN agencies, as well as governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector and academia to combat HIV / AIDS.
UNAIDS Executive Director Vinnie Byanima presented a report on the activities of the UNAIDS system, dwelling in particular on its ability to sustain the focus of all organizations involved in the fight against the AIDS epidemic at a moment when attention and resources have been diverted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The head of the delegation of Belarus, First Deputy Minister of Health Dmitry Pinevich delivered a statement in which he elaborated on the Government’s efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and its measures to prevent both a break in laboratory testing for HIV and a decline in the number of people living with HIV and receiving treatment. The statement pointed, inter alia, to the effective partnership established by Belarus with the Global Fund to Fight HIV / AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The event is expected to facilitate the dissemination of best practices in combating HIV / AIDS in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and to contribute to further mobilization of action on the part of international donors and international agencies, including UN structures, while ensuring their greater flexibility in relation to the specific problems faced by most affected states.
