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(RED) Talks—Combating HIV: Girls & Young Women

October 10, 2023
(RED) Talks

We’re back with another episode of (RED) Talks, our digital series of frank conversations exploring the current state of the fight against HIV/AIDS, its impact on marginalized communities, and present opportunities to shine a spotlight on the need for investment.

Every day, over 550 young women contract HIV. To end this injustice, we must increase programs that h​​elp empower young women and girls to be in control of their health and well-being.

Ahead of International Day of the Girl, Cathy Ferrier, Head of Positive Action, ViiV Healthcare, Rukia Männikkö, Community, Rights and Gender Regional Advisor & Focal Point for Africa and Middle East, The Global Fund, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director, Speak Up Africa, and Millicent Sethaile, HER Voice Ambassador, Botswana, join Jennifer Lotito, (RED) President and COO, for an episode of (RED) Talks exploring the work that’s being done to end HIV and AIDS in adolescent girls and young women.

This episode of (RED) Talks is generously sponsored by ViiV Healthcare.

  • Key questions addressed in this episode:
  • – Where are we in the AIDS crisis today and how and why are women and girls hit the hardest by this crisis? 
  • -What are some of the efforts being done by ViiV Healthcare regarding HIV and AIDS, especially in priority populations such as adolescent girls and young women? 
  • -What is some of the work being done by Yacine Djibo from Speak Up Africa regarding women and girls in West and Central Africa? 
  • -From Yacine Djibo’s vantage point, what types of policies and initiatives should be invested in to empower women and girls to ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being? 
  • -What motivated Millicent Sethaile to become a HER Voice ambassador? How did the role in the HER Voice fund impact Millicent’s life and the lives of adolescent girls and women? 
  • -From Millicent’s perspective, what should be done to empower adolescent girls and young women to ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being? 
  • -Beyond the HER Voice program, what are some of the other ways the Global Fund is improving global health for women and girls? When companies partner with (RED) to support the Global fund, what types of programs are those grants supporting? 
  • –Recently, the Global Fund, ViiV, and GSK partnered on a new initiative and fund focused on women and girls. What makes this particular partnership special and unique? 
  • -What is one trend or innovation that is being seen in global health that showcases hope for women and girls?