The Free to Shine campaign is an initiative of the African Union, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and partners to address the growing complacency in the response to childhood HIV in Africa. The campaign aims to leverage the unique engagement and advocacy of first ladies in Africa, reinforcing the political commitment of African leadership, to end childhood HIV and keep mothers healthy.
The Free to Shine campaign has three goals:
- Reduce new HIV infections among women in their reproductive years.
- Prevent vertical (mother-to-child transmission) of HIV.
- Ensure that children born with HIV get treatment.
WHAT IS NEEDED NEXT TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS?
This toolkit proposes three areas for advocacy for first ladies to take the Free to Shine campaign forward, bearing in mind the specific needs of their country:
ADVOCACY FOCUS 1: Keeping women and girls HIV-free.
ADVOCACY FOCUS 2: Preventing vertical transmission of HIV.
ADVOCACY FOCUS 3: Finding missing children and adolescents living with HIV and ensuring that they receive HIV services.
This toolkit shows how to take the advocacy focus areas forward, recalling international and regional commitments relevant to the Free to Shine campaign.