UNITED NATIONS, New York — The United Nations General Assembly concluded the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV/AIDS on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at the United Nations Headquarters.
The Meeting, which was originally convened 8 – 10 June 2021, happens every five years to assess progress made in reducing the impact of HIV since the last High-Level Meeting on the issue in 2016.
Through the meeting, Member States of the United Nations undertook a comprehensive review of the progress on the commitments made in the 2016 Political Declaration towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, and how the response — in its social, economic and political dimensions — continues to contribute to progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the global health goal.
The resulting 2021 Political Declaration will guide the future direction of the global response. It provides recommendations to guide and monitor the HIV/AIDS response beyond 2021, including new concrete commitments to accelerate action to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The delegation of The Bahamas, which included officials from the Ministry of Health and the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the United Nations, made several interventions during the series of Thematic Panels, which focused on ‘Addressing inequalities to End AIDS: 10 Years to 2030’, ‘Putting people and communities at the center of the response to AIDS’, ‘Resources and funding for an effective AIDS response’, ‘Advancing Gender Equality and empowering women and girls in the AIDS response’ and ‘Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the AIDS response and building back better for pandemic preparedness’.
His Excellency Chet D. Neymour, Bahamas Ambassador to the United Nations, delivered the National Statement of The Bahamas on behalf of the Honourable Renward Wells, M.P., Minister of Health, in the General Assembly Hall during the resumed Meeting.
Noting the First Lady of Haiti, Martine Moise, had delivered the Regional Statement a few weeks ago at the initiating High-Level Meeting on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Neymour seized the opportunity to convey condolences on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas to the Government and people of Haiti on the tragic death of President Jovenel Moise and he extended prayers and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to First Lady Moise.
Ambassador Neymour reinforced the commitment of the Government of The Bahamas to end inequalities in the healthcare system and to fulfill the AIDS Strategy 2021 – 2026. Drawing attention to the strides made in the country, Ambassador Neymour highlighted the reduction in the national HIV relevance rate, the decline in AIDS-related deaths and the 53% decrease in new HIV diagnoses in the past ten years.
The Government fully supports and believes that no one must be left behind, especially the most vulnerable and those most at risk for HIV, including key populations. Interventions and service delivery must be community-led and people-centered in order to improve HIV diagnosis, linkage to care and retention in care for the most vulnerable.
The strategic priorities of the Government to end AIDS include maximizing equitable and equal access to HIV services and solutions throughout our healthcare system, breaking down barriers to achieving HIV outcomes, and resourcing and sustaining the HIV response including integration into cross-cutting systems.
The Government pledged to continue to address healthcare inequality gaps and health for all and provide the enabling, supportive policies and legislation through strengthening and developing policies, plans and strategies that will take the country to the eradication of the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
