HEARD is pleased to feature the new Frontiers in Public Health Research Topic: “Challenges in Reaching the UNAIDS 95-95-95 Targets in Sub-Saharan Africa: Status, Innovations and Pathways Forward.”

This special edition brings together 18 peer-reviewed articles from across sub-Saharan Africa – including South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi, Guinea, Cameroon, and more – reflecting the diversity of contexts in which HIV programmes are implemented.

The collection includes a mix of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, study protocols, brief reports, and perspectives.

Key themes covered include:

  • Programmatic evaluations of ART outcomes and viral suppression (Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa).

  • Psychosocial and behavioral factors shaping HIV risk among adolescents and key populations (South Africa, Guinea, Tanzania, Cameroon).

  • Structural and financing challenges in sustaining the HIV response (regional perspectives).

  • Implementation science and innovative interventions, including PrEP persistence, pediatric registries, and integrated care models.

  • Comparative analyses of progress toward the 95-95-95 targets between children, adolescents, and adults.

Together, these contributions highlight both the progress made and the persistent barriers in achieving epidemic control, while offering pathways forward tailored to the realities of sub-Saharan Africa.

Explore the full collection here.