Fight against HIV/AIDS: First Lady Dominique Ouattara receives UNAIDS Country Director

Mrs Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire and Special Ambassador for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the promotion of paediatric treatment, received Mr Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director for Côte d’Ivoire, at her Cocody offices on Thursday May 15, 2025.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the significant progress made by Côte d’Ivoire in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in terms of prevention, screening and access to treatment. “We came to give the First Lady an update on the progress the country has made in the fight against AIDS, with a view to achieving the target of eliminating this pandemic by 2023. I shared some important figures on the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire,” said Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director.

The two officials also discussed current challenges, namely the reduction in international funding, and the impact this could have on the programs implemented by UNAIDS in the country. “We also discussed the challenge of reduced US funding for the fight against AIDS, particularly with regard to PEPFAR and its impact on the national response. As you know, development aid is decreasing everywhere. What precisely is the impact of all this on UNAIDS?” asked Mr. Van Renterghem.

Mrs Dominique Ouattara praised Mr. Van Renterghem’s commitment and reaffirmed her unwavering support for UNAIDS’ mission. She also renewed her personal commitment to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, to equitable access to paediatric treatment, and to improving the living conditions of women living with the virus.