Lusophone countries united to eliminate HIV, hepatitis, STIs and TB by 2030

In March 2024, representatives from seven Portuguese-speaking nations – Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe – gathered in a WHO-led meeting in Brasília, Brazil. The goal was to strengthen collaboration aimed at eliminating HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and tuberculosis (TB) as public health threats by 2030.

Hosted by the WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes (HHS), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Brazil's Ministry of Health, the event focused on identifying common challenges, setting priorities and exploring opportunities to improve health systems through integrated responses.

Recognizing the power of shared language, knowledge and challenges, HHS has promoted exchanges between Lusophone countries since 2014. This meeting built upon previous gatherings in Cabo Verde (2014) and Mozambique (2016), where countries shared experiences and discussed the implementation of new WHO policies on HIV. The 2024 meeting expanded the scope to include viral hepatitis, STIs and TB, acknowledging the interconnected nature of these diseases and the benefits of a unified approach.

Advantages of collaboration:

• shared language facilitates seamless communication and the sharing of resources and best practices;
• collective experience leverages each country's strengths and experiences to overcome common obstacles;
• resource optimization pools resources to address limitations in access to essential materials and information; and
• unified advocacy strengthens the voice of Portuguese-speaking nations in global health forums.

Key outcomes:

• regular meetings and webinars: establishing gatherings to discuss strategies, disseminate WHO recommendations, and share experiences among health professionals and civil society;
• resource exchange: creating a dedicated space to share national guidelines, training materials, and other essential documents in Portuguese, improving access to critical information; and
• strengthening networks: enhancing cooperation between government agencies, civil society, and international organizations to support unified efforts in combating these diseases.

Voices from the collaboration

Rosa Francisco Pedro, an activist living with HIV and leader of the MWENHO Association in Angola, expressed her gratitude: "I extend my deepest thanks to the World Health Organization and all partners who have supported these vital international meetings. Continued collaboration and empowerment are key to advancing the health and rights of people living with HIV in Angola and beyond."

Rodrigo Pinheiro, representing civil society, shared his enthusiasm: "Participating in the meeting with Portuguese-speaking countries was immensely gratifying, with a great exchange of experiences. Presenting the Lusophone community health network allowed us to discuss common proposals and goals to advance in the fight against STI/HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis, aiming for elimination by 2030. We hope for more meetings of the Lusophone network, possibly every year, so we can monitor our progress. The CPLP Congress on HIV/AIDS in 2025 will also be fundamentally important for our struggle."

Dr Draurio Barreira, Director of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, emphasized unity: "It is with great satisfaction and enthusiasm that I express our joy in resuming constructive and collaborative dialogue with Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in promoting integrated responses to HIV, hepatitis, STIs and TB. This symbolizes not only a step forward in our joint efforts to eliminate these diseases as public health problems by 2030 but also reaffirms the invaluable value of our unity and collaboration. Together, we are stronger and capable of overcoming challenges, advancing toward a healthier future for our populations."

Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes at WHO, highlighted the global significance: "For decades, HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis have cast long shadows over global health. Our mission resonates with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, emphasizing the need for healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. By enhancing our public health response through an integrated approach, sharing experiences, fostering cooperation and setting country-specific priorities, we pave the way for effective, context-tailored implementation of WHO recommendations through strong collaborative efforts. Together, we move steadfastly toward our goal of eliminating HIV, hepatitis, STIs and TB as public health problems by 2030."

Dr Armando Sifna, the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Health Coordinator of the National Program for the Fight Against Tuberculosis at the time, said: “I participated in the meeting held in Brasília. A meeting where different health professionals and civil society from Lusophone countries were brought together, allowing us to discuss important aspects related to the prevention and control of communicable diseases. It was fruitful and allowed for the establishment of different mechanisms for collaboration, strengthening of relations and exchange of experiences between the countries. In addition, it served to draw the attention of health professionals and members of civil society to the need to strengthen our cooperation and work in synergy to reduce morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases.”

Ricardo Fuertes, representing the Secretary of State for Health Promotion, Portuguese Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of collaboration between governments and civil society within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries in the area of drug policies. “This is an opportunity to implement effective drug policies adapted to local needs, with services integrated into the rest of the health care and social support network. These policies, based on knowledge and human rights, have already shown excellent results. To strengthen this exchange of experiences, it is essential to incorporate practices developed in partner countries, such as community interventions, peer work and task shifting, which are often overlooked in strictly medicalized contexts.”

Dr Miguel Aragon, coordinator of CDE/PAHO/Brazil, stressed the importance of sharing information and good practices between the participating countries. "The exchange of data on the incidence and control of these diseases can lead to the development of more informed policies adapted to local realities. Strengthening support and collaboration networks between Portuguese-speaking countries will not only enrich strategies to combat the diseases but will also foster a sense of solidarity and collective commitment in favour of global health. With the implementation of the initiatives discussed, there is hope that nations will be able to make significant progress in the fight against these threats to public health by 2030."

The Lusophone countries are committed to sustaining this collaboration through regular engagements and establishing a robust network for resource sharing.

By uniting under a common goal, these countries aim to make significant strides toward eliminating HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs and TB as public health threats by 2030, ensuring a healthier future for their populations.