HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis are all endemic in Africa, says WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Axar.az reports citing AA that the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged African first ladies Monday to provide the ‘political will’ to end the AIDS epidemic among children.

Speaking at a global AIDS conference in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis are endemic in Africa.

“Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis is achievable and you [first ladies] can help provide the key ingredient: political will,” Ghebreyesus told the audience, which included first ladies from Rwanda, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Niger, Ghana, and Botswana.

Eastern and southern Africa are leading the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with an average of 92% pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy, according to the WHO.

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said more domestic resources need to be invested in public healthcare and the HIV response.

The majority of children living with HIV are infected via mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.