The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched the Regional Alliance for HIV Elimination in the Americas, a new multisectoral platform bringing together governments, communities, international agencies, academia, and the private sector to advance efforts to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.
While the Americas have made significant gains against HIV, major challenges persist. UNAIDS estimates that in 2024 the region recorded 170,000 new infections and 38,000 AIDS-related deaths. Progress has been uneven: the Caribbean reduced new infections by 21% between 2010 and 2024, while Latin America experienced a 13% increase over the same period. Despite advances in testing and treatment, service gaps continue, particularly among populations at higher risk.
“This platform is a call to rethink approaches, rebuild partnerships, and strengthen collective action in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ensuring universal access to innovative, life-saving technologies,” said Monica Alonso, Chief of PAHO’s Unit on HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections. “We must also move toward eliminating the barriers that hinder access to services.”
Three pillars to drive regional elimination
The alliance prioritizes three strategic areas to accelerate HIV elimination as a public health problem in the Americas:
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Timely and expanded diagnosis, including a major scale-up of HIV self-testing to increase access.
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Expansion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — both oral and injectable — with the introduction of Lenacapavir, the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP option, offering a promising breakthrough for improving adherence among populations at risk.
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Effective and optimized antiretroviral treatment to ensure sustained viral suppression and reduced transmission.
PAHO projections indicate that scaling up both oral and injectable PrEP could reduce new infections by more than 70% within four years. Paired with expanded antiretroviral treatment, new infections could fall by more than 90% across Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Scientific and technological progress achieved in recent years makes it possible to say that HIV elimination is now within reach,” Alonso said. “Biomedical innovation is essential, but so are policies and enabling social environments that ensure this progress benefits all people equitably.”
Building on regional successes
The Americas have achieved major milestones in eliminating communicable diseases, including smallpox, polio, measles, and rubella. Several countries have also been certified for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. The region benefits from PAHO’s Revolving Funds, which facilitate access to high-quality medicines, equipment, and technologies at affordable prices.
The regional introduction of Lenacapavir through joint procurement mechanisms is expected to expand access to cutting-edge prevention tools and accelerate progress toward HIV elimination.
Alliance governance
The alliance aims to elevate HIV elimination as a regional priority aligned with the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018–2030 and PAHO’s Elimination Initiative. It will serve as a coordinated platform for joint action, regulatory harmonization, and sustainable financing.
PAHO will act as the alliance’s technical Secretariat. Working in coordination with UNAIDS, the Horizontal Technical Cooperation Group (GCTH), governments, communities, academia, and other partners, PAHO will facilitate dialogue, innovation, and advocacy to speed the introduction of new prevention, diagnosis, and treatment tools and move the region closer to zero HIV-related deaths by 2030.
