01/12/2021
FULL STATEMENT:
Since 2000, Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE) has focused on evidence-based advocacy for people-centered, human rights-based, and gender-transformative HIV policies, programs, and services for people living with HIV and key populations.
This year, ACHIEVE joins the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2021 with the vision of ending inequalities. The stigma on HIV and the discrimination faced by people living with and affected by HIV continue to be the biggest barrier in effective HIV programming and service delivery. The social inequalities faced by males who have s*x with males (MSM), transgender women, people who use and inject drugs, s*x workers, and other vulnerable communities make it difficult for them to access HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. Without access to these HIV programs and services, HIV infection will continue to rise in this country.
ACHIEVE, together with its allies from the government, civil society, and partner communities, calls on stakeholders to prioritize interventions that address HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and promote inclusive responses that revolve around promoting meaningful community engagement in decision-making, program development and implementation, and service delivery. ACHIEVE also calls on the government to increase its budget for HIV and allocate significant amounts to support the sustainability of community-led HIV interventions at the national and local levels.
The commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day should serve as a strong reminder that there is no ending AIDS if there is no support to end inequalities.
FULL STATEMENT:
Since 2000, Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE) has focused on evidence-based advocacy for people-centered, human rights-based, and gender-transformative HIV policies, programs, and services for people living with HIV and key populations.
This year, ACHIEVE joins the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2021 with the vision of ending inequalities. The stigma on HIV and the discrimination faced by people living with and affected by HIV continue to be the biggest barrier in effective HIV programming and service delivery. The social inequalities faced by males who have s*x with males (MSM), transgender women, people who use and inject drugs, s*x workers, and other vulnerable communities make it difficult for them to access HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. Without access to these HIV programs and services, HIV infection will continue to rise in this country.
ACHIEVE, together with its allies from the government, civil society, and partner communities, calls on stakeholders to prioritize interventions that address HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and promote inclusive responses that revolve around promoting meaningful community engagement in decision-making, program development and implementation, and service delivery. ACHIEVE also calls on the government to increase its budget for HIV and allocate significant amounts to support the sustainability of community-led HIV interventions at the national and local levels.
The commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day should serve as a strong reminder that there is no ending AIDS if there is no support to end inequalities.
