Praia, Cape verde – Health officials in Cape Verde are optimistic teh island nation is on track to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030, a goal announced Sunday on the eve of World AIDS Day. The prospective achievement, driven by a national strategic plan, would mark a important milestone in global public health efforts. According to local authorities,nearly 95% of individuals currently have an undetectable viral load thanks to widespread access to antiretroviral therapies.
Agence de presse Xinhua | 01. 12.
2025
Cape Verde is on track to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030, according to a national plan currently in progress, Celina Ferreira, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Coordination and the Fight against HIV/AIDS, announced Sunday in Praia.
“It is possible, as we are nearing 95% of individuals with an undetectable viral load. Today, thanks to powerful medications that eliminate the virus from the body, we will achieve this,” Ferreira stated in a press briefing held on the eve of World AIDS Day.
Highlighting the continued importance of widespread condom use and other preventative measures, Ferreira noted that the first antiretroviral treatment became available in Cape Verde in 2004, marking a pivotal moment that transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic condition.
HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and antiretroviral treatment are available in all health centers across Cape Verde’s nine inhabited islands, alongside “undetectable viral load control”—meaning consistent treatment for patients—and “the fight against stigma to achieve zero discrimination,” she explained. “If we do all of this, we will reach the elimination goal by 2030.”
Cape Verde Nears HIV/AIDS Elimination Goal for 2030
Cape Verde is making significant strides toward eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030, health officials announced December 1, 2025. The country’s progress is fueled by a comprehensive national plan focused on treatment and prevention.
According to Celina Ferreira, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Coordination and the Fight against HIV/AIDS, the nation is approaching a critical milestone: achieving a 95% rate of individuals with undetectable viral loads. This achievement is largely attributed to the availability of potent antiretroviral medications.
“It is possible, as we are nearing 95% of individuals with an undetectable viral load. Today, thanks to powerful medications that eliminate the virus from the body, we will achieve this,” Ferreira said.
The success builds on a foundation established in 2004, when Cape Verde first introduced antiretroviral treatment, transforming HIV from a fatal illness into a chronic, manageable condition. This shift in treatment has been instrumental in improving the health and longevity of people living with HIV.
Currently, comprehensive HIV/AIDS services – including prevention programs, testing, and antiretroviral treatment – are readily accessible at all health centers across Cape Verde’s nine inhabited islands. These services are coupled with ongoing efforts to maintain undetectable viral loads through consistent patient care and to combat the stigma associated with HIV, aiming for zero discrimination.
“If we do all of this, we will reach the elimination goal by 2030,” Ferreira emphasized. The country’s commitment to a multi-faceted approach—treatment as prevention, alongside robust prevention strategies—offers a promising model for other nations working to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
