2025 annual review of the HIV response: Gains to be preserved amid declining resources

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Extract from the article: Togo recorded further progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in 2025, with the national prevalence estimated at 1.6%, a 70% reduction in new infections between 2010 and 2025, and a 73% decline in AIDS-related deaths. These results were presented duri

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Togo recorded further progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in 2025, with the national prevalence estimated at 1.6%, a 70% reduction in new infections between 2010 and 2025, and a 73% decline in AIDS-related deaths. These results were presented during the annual review of the national HIV response, held on 4 and 5 August in Lomé by the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council for the Fight against AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SP/CNLS-IST), in a context marked by declining international funding.

Held under the theme « Reduced funding and programme sustainability: what are the challenges? », the meeting brought together government and health authorities, technical and financial partners, civil society organisations, community representatives, the private sector and the media to assess the performance of the HIV response and identify strategies to preserve the achievements made.

Encouraging results

Data from the 2025 annual report show that the number of new HIV infections dropped from 7,100 in 2010 to 2,100 in 2025, representing a 70% decrease, while AIDS-related deaths declined by 73% over the same period.

In terms of prevention, 2,367,586 people were reached through behaviour change awareness campaigns. The same number of people also benefited from awareness activities on gender-based violence. Overall, 26,318,206 condoms were distributed and 650,142 people underwent HIV testing.

Regarding the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, 279,080 pregnant women, representing 89.44% of the expected target, were tested for HIV. In addition, 3,096 newborns born to mothers living with HIV received antiretroviral prophylaxis. The HIV positivity rate among infants at six weeks stands at 1.17%, while the mother-to-child transmission rate is estimated at 11.3% at 18 months.

Effective care and support

In 2025, 95,185 people living with HIV were receiving care in health facilities out of an estimated national total of 100,000 people. Among them, 95,038 were on antiretroviral treatment, representing a national treatment linkage rate of 99.85%.

Human rights actions also continued, with 107 monitoring units operational across the country. These mechanisms provided legal assistance to 165 victims of stigma, discrimination or violence.

The funding challenge

Expenditure on the HIV response reached CFAF 19.37 billion in 2025. Technical and financial partners contributed 86.44% of this funding, compared with 13.52% from domestic resources, highlighting the programme’s strong dependence on external financing.

Officially opening the proceedings, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance, Dr Wotobe Kokou, commended the coordination work carried out by the SP/CNLS-IST and recalled that this review is an essential exercise in accountability, performance analysis and strategic guidance. He urged all participants to make relevant recommendations aimed at consolidating achievements and ensuring the sustainability of HIV control programmes.

The National Coordinator of SP/CNLS-IST, Professor Pitche Palokinam Vincent, stressed that Togo continues to move towards epidemic control thanks to the joint efforts of the Government, technical and financial partners, civil society and communities. While acknowledging the progress made, he noted that preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, prevention among adolescents and the mobilisation of domestic resources remain key priorities.

The UNAIDS Country Director, Dr Christian Mouala, congratulated Togo on the progress achieved in recent years and reaffirmed UNAIDS’ commitment to supporting the country’s efforts to accelerate progress towards global HIV targets, despite an international environment marked by reduced funding.

At the end of the two-day meeting, participants will adopt recommendations aimed at strengthening domestic financing mechanisms, promoting innovative solutions and ensuring the sustainability of the national HIV response in the face of declining international support.

William O. (Source: cnlstogo.org)