Statement by H.E. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN at the UNGA 73 Plenary Meeting Item 11: Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and political declarations on HIV/AIDS

03 June, 2019

Madam President,

Armenia welcomes the annual discussion on the Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the relevant political declarations.
We thank the Secretary General for the report on “Galvanizing global ambition to end the AIDS epidemic after a decade of progress” which acknowledges the positive results of collective action against AIDS.

Armenia is committed to the implementation of the 2016 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and to “Fast-Track” progress for ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030. These commitments are anchored in National Strategic Program on HIV/AIDS prevention for 2017-2021. In this area we are also strongly guided by the goals of the 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNAIDS 2016-2021 Strategy, the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV and the Action plan for health sector response to HIV in the WHO European Region.

In recent years Armenia has made substantial progress towards halting the epidemic. Over the last 5 years, HIV prevalence in each of the key population groups at higher risk of exposure has been below 5%, and well below 1% among pregnant women.
Armenia is among the first countries worldwide certified by WHO on validation of elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The importance of early diagnosis and treatment can not be underestimated. To improve accessibility of these vital services, Armenia is revising the testing strategies and protocols in line with WHO guidelines. The coverage of community-based preventive interventions expanded to reach the 60% target set in the National Strategic Program.

Provider initiated testing, community-based testing and self-testing are being implemented in the country. Relevant national authorities are also exploring novel ways of testing to reach the target of 90% of people living with HIV knowing about their status.

In 2017 the "Treat All" approach for immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment was adopted to include 90% of people diagnosed with HIV. Armenian authorities attach great importance to close cooperation with the civil society to ensure inclusive policies and practices. We also continue the search for newer treatment schemes, new drugs and new long-lasting injectable drug formulations to prevent treatment interruptions.

Madam President,

One of the important pre-requisites in the fight against the HIV AIDS is conducive legal framework and societal norms to reduce stigma and discrimination and improve accessibility of services, in particular for marginalized and vulnerable groups to have an access to HIV healthcare.

Armenia's has well recognized track record of effective multi-sectoral response to the AIDS epidemic, as well as of HIV prevention and treatment. As the Secretary-General mentions in his report, the response to AIDS does not exist in isolation. It is in this context that our country has developed a tightly integrated system of services on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, maternal and child healthcare, which ensures early diagnostics, provision of quality care, effective treatment and other medical services for those in need.

While worldwide progress has been made, AIDS is yet far from being over. Important challenges such as high proportion of late-diagnosed HIV patients, high mortality, insufficient coverage of prevention interventions among key populations including the labor migrants, difficulties in initiating treatment, treatment interruption, low adherence and risk of being lost to follow-up are still in place. A decrease in international donor funding continues to pose serious risks for HIV response in Eastern Europe, requiring increased funding for ensuring successful transition.

We look forward to our further partnership and cooperation with the UN agencies, particularly the UNAIDS and WHO, as well as with the Global Fund, to galvanize the action necessary for reaching the targets set by the General Assembly and incorporate a comprehensive HIV response into Universal Health Coverage, leaving no one behind.

Armenia is strongly committed to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and to achieve other health related commitments within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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