What does it really mean to be prepared for a pandemic? It’s more than laboratories, surveillance and stockpiles. As Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, told the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, preparedness must mean enabling people to act on public health advice. Because telling a woman to stay home during a pandemic isn’t realistic if doing so means her children won’t eat. That means pandemic preparedness also needs social protection, community-led services, rights, data, financing and systems that reach the people most at risk. We have the science. Now we need the solidarity and systems to make that science work

Yesterday in New York, the Government of Benin and the UNAIDS Secretariat signed a Protocol of Agreement, with Benin committing €544,042 to support UNAIDS’ work in the country through 2026–2027. The contribution is a concrete demonstration of Benin’s leadership and shared responsibility for sustaining its HIV response — particularly at a time when international health financing is under pressure. Since 2001, UNAIDS has worked alongside the Government of Benin, communities, civil society and development partners to strengthen the HIV response and expand access to prevention, treatment and support. As Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin, said: “It is more than a financing agreement; it is proof that a steadfast partnership, sustained over time, saves lives.” Benin joins a growing group of countries investing directly in UNAIDS’ work, reinforcing a model built around country leadership, national ownership and sustainable partnerships. The HIV response is strongest when countries are empowered to lead it — and UNAIDS is committed to being a partner in that work. Read the full press release: unaids.org/en/resources/pres…