World AIDS Day 2020: Positioning HIV Intervention in the Face of COVID-19 | General News

Every year on December 1st, the world celebrates World AIDS Day. On this day, the world will unite to live with HIV, help people infected with HIV, and remember those who died in a pandemic. The celebration will also focus on national / world intervention to end HIV.

This year, we will show solidarity and appreciate what has been achieved by keeping HIV from eroding the benefits brought by countries in various aspects of the economy and building human capital. One opportunity, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the delivery of HIV services, treatments and care and puts more people at risk.

This year’s theme is global solidarity and shared responsibility.

According to UNAIDS, as of 2019, it is estimated that 342.307 adults and children are living with HIV in Ghana. The number of women living with HIV in 2019 is estimated to be 219.986, or 64% of PLHIV.

Statistics continue to show gender transmission in Ghana at the expense of women and girls. Many Efforts: Investment in resources, targeted intervention, and research and development have made great strides in prevention, treatment, and care to defeat HIV.

Very recent research results show the effectiveness of a long-acting injection (Cabotegravir) for the prevention of HIV in women. Positive opinions about the effectiveness of the Dapivirin vaginal ring to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in women add to the progress made to defeat the disease.

Globally, increased access to HIV treatment has avoided approximately 12.1 million AIDS-related deaths since 2010, according to UNAIDS. Congratulations are needed as this victory has led to a significant reduction in deaths associated with HIV infection. Although there have been remarkable advances, there has been inequality, especially in increasing access to antiretroviral therapies.

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupts HIV prevention, treatment and care services, but also defeats the disease as the government diverts more health resources to the fight against COVID-19. Is reversing the profits gained in. A complete discontinuation of HIV treatment for six months, according to UNAIDS, will kill more than 500,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa next year (2020-2021), bringing the region to 2008 HIV mortality levels. There is a possibility of returning.

As in Ghana, adolescent girls and young women continue to face an unacceptably high risk of HIV transmission in high-burden countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was exacerbated by lockdowns and long school breaks, which led to premature marriage, unplanned pregnancies, gender-based violence, and reduced school girl enrollment, they Increased vulnerability.

More than ever, urgent and constant efforts by governments, donors, the private sector, civil society and communities are needed to continue to focus on HIV intervention. This helps to defeat HIV, mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on HIV, and maintain efforts to prevent new infections and deaths.

Successful HIV control requires agile leadership and community involvement. Community involvement and solidarity are paramount in providing information, services, social protection and hope to people infected with HIV. Defeating HIV requires this kind of solidarity by all stakeholders.

Putting people at the center of the HIV and COVID-19 response and rooting their commitment to human rights and gender-responsive approaches is the key to ending the two illnesses. Recognizing the extreme vulnerabilities of young women and girls, we need to expand prevention programs for adolescent girls and young women for prevention, care and treatment services.

Greater commitment to health is needed through increasing national and international resource allocations for health and efficient allocation and use of resources.

This will help defeat HIV and COVID-19 and prevent further loss of profits for a critical fight against HIV. Efforts to overcome the two illnesses need to ensure that everyone has access to the medical care they need, when and where they need it. No one should be left behind, as healthcare is a human right and its access should not depend on a person’s financial strength at all.

The COVID-19 crisis is a wake-up call and an opportunity to make better investments for the desired health outcomes. In general, the end of HIV as a public health threat and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 for the health and well-being of all depend on the extent of the commitment to COVID-19.

Hope for future generations

Hope for Future Generations has been at the forefront of various community interventions aimed at creating a country where women, children and young people are free of discrimination over the past 19 years, a national community-based non-governmental non-governmental organization. It is a commercial organization. People have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. Since 2001, HFFG has had a positive impact on the lives of more than 2 million women, children and adolescents in 16 regions of Ghana, including people with disabilities and HIV infection, through various interventions. I have come.

Through the WAPCAS / Global Fund NFM II project, HFFG mobilizes 350 young people living with HIV throughout Ghana, advocating for them to adhere to treatment, raise concerns and participate in decision-making processes at all levels. I am. ..

Source: Cecilia Senoo / Executive Director / GFAN-Africa

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