PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa will take part in the conference opening and several high-level events. Interview opportunities with media will be available.
RIO DE JANEIRO, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) will participate in the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 26–31, with a strong focus on accelerating HIV elimination efforts in the Americas and expanding access to innovations that are transforming HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa will participate in the opening session of AIDS 2026 and in several high-level events on HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, innovation, and access to new health technologies. His participation will highlight how countries across the Americas can leverage scientific advances, primary health care, regional cooperation, and community engagement to advance toward ending HIV as a public health threat.
The conference comes at a pivotal moment for the global HIV response. Today, the Region has unprecedented tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat HIV, including new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options, rapid tests, HIV self-testing, highly effective antiretroviral therapies, and community-based service delivery models.
However, significant gaps remain: approximately 34% of new HIV diagnoses in Latin America and the Caribbean are made at a late stage of infection, while hundreds of thousands of people who know their HIV status still do not have access to treatment due to barriers to care, stigma, and inequalities.
Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean finance more than 90% of HIV investments through domestic resources, making the Region a global leader in the sustainable financing of the HIV response. At the same time, PAHO warns that continued investment will be needed to ensure that innovations reach those who need them most.
One of PAHO's main priorities during AIDS 2026 will be promoting the Alliance for the Elimination of HIV in the Americas, a regional platform designed to accelerate early diagnosis, expand access to PrEP, optimize antiretroviral treatment, and strengthen collaboration among governments, communities, international organizations, academia, technical partners, and the private sector.