On International Women’s Day, the world recommits to the pledge for parity and gender equality. At ICAP at Columbia University, this has meant prioritizing the wellbeing of women around the world and improving their access to essential health services.

Globally, women and adolescent girls constitute more than half of all people living with HIV, and among women ages 15 to 49, HIV is the leading cause of death. Women and girls often face a number of cultural, social, and economic barriers to HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

This year, we celebrate an important milestone—over one million women have received HIV treatment through ICAP-supported programs around the world.

With remarkable partners in over 20 countries and thousands of committed health care workers, ICAP is transforming HIV care for generations of women by expanding new approaches to prevention, increasing access to treatment, and helping women stay in care.

In Tanzania, ICAP is supporting the development and implementation of a major cervical cancer prevention program to expand care for women living with HIV. Over 37,000 women have received cervical cancer care through ICAP support, and over 14,000 whom are living with HIV.

In Kenya, ICAP is supporting HIV care for young women and adolescents and training peer educators to address sexual and reproductive health needs of teens. We have supported the expansion of reproductive health services at over 360 sites in Nyanza and Eastern South regions.

Since 2004, ICAP support for women-centered initiatives has led to these important milestones:

• Over 1.6 million women have received HIV care and treatment services
• Over 1.0 million women have received HIV treatment
• Over 6.9 million pregnant women have received HIV testing and counseling