APFSD 2025: Get Back on Track to Achieve SDG Target 3.3 (End AIDS, TB and Malaria) in Asia-Pacific

The session aimed to provide civil society and community perspectives on the review of SDG 3, emphasising the need for a shared vision to get back on track, mobilise political will, and increase investment to combat HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Experts, policymakers, and advocates from across the region participated, offering valuable insights into the urgent actions needed to accelerate progress towards ending these epidemics by 2030.

The 90-minute session was attended by over 100 participants in person and virtually. Below are the key highlights and takeaways from the event.

The Global Fund’s Investment Case for the Eighth Replenishment

Lady Roslyn Morauta (Chair, Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria [Global Fund]) delivered the keynote address, where she outlined the critical milestones achieved by the Global Fund in tackling HIV, TB, and malaria, while also stressing the increasing financial gaps that threaten continued progress.

The key takeaways from her address are:

• The Global Fund’s Eighth replenishment investment case aims to raise $18 billion to sustain and accelerate progress in global health efforts.
• If successful, this funding could help save 23 million lives and prevent 400 million new infections.
• Low- and middle-income countries remain the most vulnerable, necessitating greater international cooperation.
• Advocates and civil society organisations must engage in lobbying efforts to secure political and financial commitments from both traditional and emerging donor countries.

Lady Roslyn emphasised that time is running out, and without a firm global commitment, the world risks backsliding on decades of hard-won gains against these epidemics.

HIV: Challenges and Opportunities

Khin Cho Win Htin (Prevention Specialist, UNAIDS) and Fairy Abdulghani (Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers & Member of the Seven Alliance) shared insights on the progress of the HIV response in the Asia-Pacific region. Their presentation combined data-driven analysis with perspectives from communities and civil society, highlighting both achievements and ongoing challenges. Persistent challenges remain, including:

• Political and legal barriers, such as the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ communities and other vulnerable groups, which prevent access to essential health services.
• Social stigma and discrimination, leading to fear, reluctance to seek treatment, and furthering health disparities.
• Gaps in healthcare financing, particularly in low-income countries where donor support remains unpredictable.
• Challenges in PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and ART (antiretroviral therapy) coverage, making it difficult to reach those most at risk.

Despite these obstacles, there are promising opportunities for progress:

• Stronger integration of HIV services with mental health and gender-based violence interventions to provide holistic care.
• Community-led solutions that prioritise peer-to-peer support, advocacy, and service delivery.
• New technological advancements, such as self-testing kits and digital health solutions, to enhance accessibility.
• Regional cooperation, leveraging cross-country knowledge sharing to implement best practices.

The presentation concluded with a call for increased advocacy efforts to ensure political leaders recognise and act on the urgency of funding and policy reforms.

Tuberculosis: Overcoming Barriers to Elimination

Jeffry Acaba (Coordinator, Activists Coalition on TB – Asia Pacific [ACT! AP]) highlighted the significant challenges still facing TB elimination efforts in the region. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, TB remains a leading cause of death in many low- and middle-income countries, exacerbated by poverty, stigma, and weak health systems.

Key discussion points included:

• Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) remains a major public health challenge, requiring urgent investments in diagnostics, treatment access, and research into new drug regimens.
• The intersection of TB and HIV: Many TB cases occur among people living with HIV, making integrated care critical to reducing mortality rates.
• Social determinants of health, including malnutrition and poor living conditions, continue to fuel TB transmission, necessitating a multi-sectoral approach to prevention and care.
• Political will and financing gaps: Many countries have yet to fully implement WHO-endorsed TB response strategies due to inadequate financial support and weak policy enforcement.

The speaker called for enhanced community engagement, emphasising that grassroots-level initiatives and advocacy are crucial in bridging gaps in healthcare access, promoting early TB diagnosis, and ensuring treatment adherence. Additionally, increased domestic investment and stronger partnerships with the private sector were highlighted as key to closing the financial gaps hindering TB response efforts.

Malaria Elimination: Progress and Challenges

Phoutthakone Norphansy (Program Director, Community Health and Inclusion Association [CHIAs] & Vice-Chairperson, GFAN AP Steering Committee) provided an in-depth analysis of malaria elimination strategies in the Asia-Pacific region. While significant strides have been made over the past two decades, the fight against malaria is far from over.

Key insights from her presentation:

• Declining but persistent cases: While some countries are on track for elimination, others continue to face periodic outbreaks.
• Challenges in detection and diagnosis: Underreporting and misdiagnosis remain major hurdles, especially in remote and conflict-affected areas.
• Access to healthcare: Many marginalized communities, including migrant workers and indigenous populations, still struggle to access timely treatment.
• Funding concerns: With donor priorities shifting, securing sustainable financing remains a major concern for malaria programs.

To sustain progress, Phoutthakone emphasised the need for:

• Strengthened community-based healthcare systems.
• More robust data collection and monitoring tools to track cases effectively.
• Increased public-private partnerships to ensure continuous funding.
• Ongoing advocacy efforts to keep malaria elimination a global priority.

A Call for Collective Action

The event concluded with a resounding call to action, urging stakeholders to accelerate their efforts in achieving SDG target 3.3. The panelists outlined six key priorities for the coming years:

1. Ensuring the success of the Eighth replenishment of the Global Fund, securing the $18 billion target to sustain life-saving programs.
2. Encouraging stronger political commitment from donor countries, particularly Japan and France, to support health financing mechanisms.
3. Expanding multi-sectoral collaboration between governments, civil society organisations, and international development agencies.
4. Addressing legal and policy barriers that hinder healthcare access for key populations, including people living with HIV, sex workers, and marginalised populations.
5. Integrating HIV, TB, and malaria programs into broader universal health coverage (UHC) strategies to ensure long-term sustainability.
6. Exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as debt-to-health swaps, to increase financial resources for healthcare initiatives.

The session served as a powerful reminder that without immediate and sustained action, the world risks falling behind on its commitment to end AIDS, TB, and malaria by 2030. Stakeholders were urged to advocate for policy reforms, push for increased investments, and work together to ensure no one is left behind.

GFAN AP remains committed to fostering dialogue and partnerships to drive progress towards achieving SDG target 3.3: Ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases by 2030.

SPEAKERS: