‘Aidsfonds is a true partner to community’ – Interview with Jenny Cozins

Last updated on: 19 February 2025

‘Aidsfonds is a true partner to communities’, says Jenny Cozins, Head of Positive Action at ViiV Healthcare. In this interview, we spoke with her about the role of communities to end paediatric AIDS, the achievements of the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership and Aidsfonds’ contributions to strengthening community systems and putting communities in the lead.

 

Why are children still dying of AIDS?

‘We also know that children, only 57% of children actually have access to life saving treatment, compared to 77% of adults’’, says Jenny Cozins, Head of Positive Action at ViiV Healthcare.

Why is working with communities so important in ending paediatric AIDS?

‘’I think that communities know exactly what’s needed, how to deliver it. So it’s absolutely essential and vital that communities design the projects. They lead them, they implement them, and, importantly, monitor the progress of the particular project’’, Cozins emphasizes.

What is the added value of Aidsfonds within Breakthrough?

“I think the value add and the really special and unique role that Aidsfonds plays is its role with community partners. Aidsfonds is a true partner to community, works alongside to really understand what the needs are of the community specifically, really flexible and adapt to specific changes required. Aidsfonds also works hand in hand in terms of capacity building, thinking about sustainability, and also sets the partner up for success. I think there are programmatic alignment as well between the kids to care program that Aidsfonds has and also the Positive Action paediatric strategy and deliverables and goals. So there’s real synergy between the two organisations.”

What are you most proud of what the Breakthrough Partnership has achieved so far?

I think the way that the partners work together, everyone has a really clear role and responsibility within the partnership. And what I’ve seen, especially over the last 18 months, is the partners really leveraging each other’s skills, strengths and expertise.

What is your call to action upon the world?

Really focus on the importance of prevention programs to ensure that we really have an AIDS free generation.

About the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership

Initiated and funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action in 2020, the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership seeks to create sustainable change in regions most affected by paediatric HIV. The initiative strengthens collaboration between communities, health facilities, governments, healthcare providers, and civil society. With communities at the centre, it aims to prevent mother-to-child transmission and ensure comprehensive HIV treatment and care for children and their mothers. Partners in this effort include EGPAF, PATA, and UNICEF.