DRC’s initiative to end aids in children points the way for SDG 3
- Ahmed Toure
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
In June 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) unveiled a bold Presidential Initiative to End Paediatric AIDS, aiming to eliminate AIDS among children by 2030, a goal aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all. Launched by President Félix Tshisekedi in Lualaba Province on 13 June, the programme is underpinned by a national funding commitment of at least USD 18 million and addresses urgent gaps in early detection, treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and systemic barriers.
Why the initiative matters
Although 91 % of adults living with HIV in the DRC already access antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 44 % of children receive treatment, an alarming disparity that has persisted for over a decade. Thousands of new paediatric infections continue annually, largely due to missed screenings and fragile maternal health services. The initiative responds to this inequity as “‘a **moral imperative’, an indicator of dignity”, according to President Tshisekedi.
A grassroots, community‑driven model
Notably, the programme emphasises a community‑driven approach, empowering local health workers and traditional leaders to deliver testing, prevention and follow-up, even in conflict‑affected regions. This bottom‑up strategy seeks to reinforce provincial accountability and improve integration with maternal, newborn and adolescent health services. As reaffirmed by UNAIDS Country Director Susan Kasedde, the initiative represents “a beacon of hope” at a time when global financing is under strain.
Sustaining momentum amid constraints
One critical question is how the DRC will sustain the initiative amidst global funding cuts that threaten antenatal testing, paediatric treatment and supply chains. The reliance on a single tranche of USD 18 million in domestic funding places acute pressure on the national budget, especially as health infrastructure remains under-resourced in conflict‑affected eastern regions. Continued support from international partners, such as PEPFAR, the Global Fund, Elizabeth Glaser Foundation and UNAIDS, will also be vital to underpin systems-strengthening and procurement of essential commodities.
Balancing child-centred focus with broader HIV efforts
While the focus on children aims to close a persistent treatment gap, there are concerns that it may narrow the broader HIV/AIDS response. The initiative pledges to enhance early screening for pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescents, a population that has previously received less attention than adults. For effectiveness, it must ensure that maternal and child‑centred efforts remain integrated within nationwide HIV interventions, and that adult-level gains are not compromised.
Global perspective and future prospects
The DRC is one of twelve African nations that, through the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children, pledged to eliminate paediatric AIDS by 2030. Historically, vertical transmission programmes have averted some 4 million child infections globally since 2000, yet many countries, DRC included, are not on track to meet SDG 3 targets. The DRC initiative, combining political resolve, community leadership, and international partnership, could become a blueprint for conflict‑sensitive settings where health systems are fragile.
The DRC’s paediatric AIDS initiative exemplifies how targeted national leadership, community engagement and global cooperation can revitalise momentum towards SDG 3. Its success will depend on sustained funding, resilient health systems, and the ability to scale locally rooted models across provinces, even amid instability. As the world approaches 2030, hope lies in collective action that leaves no child behind.
More information and sources: unaids.org & guyanachronicle.com