HIV/AIDS: Validating messages to combat stigma and discrimination

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Extract from the article: Togo is already committed to promoting the rights of PLHIV as an important aspect of its response to HIV. Since 2010, it has had a law protecting people living with HIV. This law prohibits discrimination on the basis of HIV status, protects patient c

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Togo is already committed to promoting the rights of PLHIV as an important aspect of its response to HIV. Since 2010, it has had a law protecting people living with HIV. This law prohibits discrimination on the basis of HIV status, protects patient confidentiality and guarantees equal rights for people infected with or affected by HIV.

However, it has to be said that this law is not well known by the general public, despite the efforts being made to publicise it. It was against this backdrop that the Réseau des Personnes Vivant avec le VIH (RAS+) received funding from FHI 360 to develop key messages aimed at health facility providers and users. Once these messages have been developed, it is essential that they are validated by those involved in the field. With this in mind, the SP/CNLS, in collaboration with RAS+ Togo, organised a validation workshop for these key messages on Wednesday 27 September 2023. The overall aim is to combat stigma and discrimination in order to achieve UNAIDS targets 10-10-10.

These targets, known as 10-10-10, are as follows: less than 10% of countries still have repressive laws and policies that prohibit or restrict access to services; less than 10% of people from key populations and people living with HIV are victims of stigma and discrimination; less than 10% of women, girls, people living with HIV and people from key populations are confronted with violence and gender inequality.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the proposed messages, and read out the key messages from the law on the protection of people living with HIV and the amendments to its content and form.

The fight against stigma, discrimination and gender-based violence is therefore becoming a response priority, especially as the global HIV coordinating body warns that a lack of progress on HIV-related stigma and discrimination would hamper efforts to achieve the goals of HIV testing and treatment, as well as viral load suppression.This would result in : 440,000 additional AIDS-related deaths between 2020 and 2030 and 2.6 million additional new HIV infections over the same period.(UNAIDS, 2021).

 

In 2022, the data from the 3x95 cascade show that Togo, with the support of its partners and civil society, has made enormous efforts. They show that: 80% of PLHIV know their serostatus, 99% of PLHIV are on treatment, 84% of PLHIV have suppressed their viral load.These efforts are certainly encouraging, but they are far from a foregone conclusion.The violation of the rights of PLHIV, through stigmatisation and discrimination, threatens to undermine them and prevent the objectives from being achieved.

The new UNAIDS strategy emphasises respect for the rights of PLHIV and key populations for an effective response to HIV, with the aim of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030.To this end, it urges governments to put an end to the inequalities that will surely lead to the end of AIDS.

William O.