EVENTS: On December 1st; The WHO joins partners and communities to commemorate the World AIDS Day 2024 under the theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS.
Speakers:
- Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
- Axel Bautista, Community Engagement Manager, MPact, Mexico City
- Alexandra Calmy, Head of HIV Services, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
- Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima, Chair of the National Association for Support for HIV+ people living with AIDS, Burundi
- Berthilde Gahongayire, Regional Director, West and Central Africa region, UNAIDS
Statement by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on World AIDS Day 2024; December 1st.
"Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is achievable. But reaching this goal requires breaking down the barriers keeping people from vital services. Every 25 seconds, someone in the world is infected with HIV. One-quarter of people living with HIV — more than nine million people — lack access to lifesaving treatment. Discriminatory laws, policies and practices punish and stigmatize vulnerable people — especially women, girls and minorities — preventing their access to proven preventions, testing, treatment and care. This year’s World AIDS Day reminds us the fight against AIDS can be won if leaders take a rights-based approach to ensure that everyone — especially the most vulnerable — can get the services they need without fear. The inspirational advances made in the global HIV response have been powered by global solidarity and human rights. We will overcome AIDS if the rights of everyone, everywhere, are protected. I call on all leaders to heed this year’s theme and take the “rights” path.
Make Your Voice Count!
On 1 December, speak up for health equity. Help us ensure that everyone, everywhere, has the right to quality healthcare services in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Health is a human right.
Everyone should have access to the health services they need, including HIV prevention, treatment and care services when and where they need them. Protecting rights means ensuring that healthcare is available to everyone, without any discrimination, regardless of their HIV status, background, gender, or where they live.
Prevention empowers and protects.
Empowering individuals with access to HIV prevention tools, education, and services protects not only their health but also their rights. Equal access to prevention is key to stopping new infections.
Address stigma and discrimination.
Stigma and discrimination undermine the fight against AIDS. Protecting human rights is essential to achieving universal HIV care and breaking down barriers to access.
Prioritize and reach vulnerable and key populations.
Ending AIDS requires that we prioritize and engage everyone who is living with, at risk for or affected by HIV, including vulnerable and marginalized populations - children, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and people in prisons and other closed settings. This is essential to ensure an effective and durable response to HIV that honor’s the right to health.
Champion access to life-saving treatment to achieve HIV viral suppression.
With early diagnosis and consistent antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV can lead long, healthy lives—just like those who are HIV-negative. Achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load by taking antiretroviral therapy as prescribed means zero risk of transmission, empowering individuals and protecting communities.
CALL TO ACTION
General public
- Advocate for policies that ensure everyone has access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care - share your support on social media using # #WorldAIDSDay2024;
- Learn about the inequalities driving the AIDS epidemic and educate others;
- Support local health initiatives working to end AIDS;
- Join global and local campaigns demanding health as a fundamental right.
Health workers
- Advocate for access to essential HIV services;
- Incorporate HIV into routine health interventions;
- Deliver care that is kind, respectful of human rights and without stigma.
Ministries of Health, National AIDS Commissions and other public health leaders
- Allocate sufficient resources improve the quality of HIV services and make them more resilient and sustainable;
- Focus efforts to reach populations that are vulnerable or that are key to the HIV response, including, children, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and prisoners;
- Empower communities to combat stigma and discrimination.
- Support and empower frontline health workers (nurses, midwives and community health workers) to deliver high-quality HIV services, while recognizing their critical contributions in providing HIV services;
- Ensure appropriate and safe working environment to improve the safety of working conditions in health care settings.
- Help to reach vulnerable, stigmatized and other difficult-to-reach populations;
- Speak out against stigma and discrimination;
- Help young people take leadership in the AIDS response.
Community leaders
- Ensure essential HIV services are maintained in the community;
- Reach out to key and vulnerable populations and assist them to access HIV services when needed;
- Ensure that adolescents, youth at risk, pregnant women and infants receive adequate care that incorporates HIV;
- Combat stigma and discrimination to ensure that everyone feels safe to access HIV services;
- Support health workers to provide HIV services to everyone in the community.
HIV program managers
- Focus on key and vulnerable populations for delivery of HIV services.
- Support and empower health workers to deliver high quality HIV services to everyone who needs them;
- Ensure adequate training in HIV services for health workers.
