The HCWG recently participated in the PLHIV Leadership Summit 2025, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9th to 11th April 2025 under the theme “PLHIV Leaders Now.” The summit aimed to take stock of the PLHIV community structure, build a collective understanding of the REALITY NOW, and develop the PLHIV Advocacy and Narrative message of NOW.

With the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat nearing, the PLHIV Summit emphasised the urgency to address the persistent gaps in the HIV response and secure the health of PLHIV amidst the current global health landscape.

The meeting also discussed the urgent need for a unified effort to reimagine strategies for sustained treatment access, ensuring people survive and thrive.

During the summit, the HCWG’s Dr Mumbi Chola made a presentation titled “A vision for Africa’s Sustainable HIV response towards and post-2030 in a changing funding environment.” The presentation detailed the HCWG’s vision for what will be required to sustain the HIV response based on transformative strategies rooted in six pillars (https://www.thelancet.com/…/article/PIIS2214-109X(25).

By participating in the PLHIV summit, the HCWG proved its commitment to advocating for an African-led HIV response driven by communities of PLHIV. The HIV response will only be truly sustainable when it is led by communities, particularly PLHIV.