©AfreePress-(Lomé, december, 2, 2023)-©AfreePress-(Lomé, December 2, 2023) – The Regional Director of WHO for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, emphasized the urgent need to remove barriers hindering access to HIV/AIDS screening, prevention, treatment, and care services. This call was made on the occasion of World AIDS Day, where she reiterated the crucial importance of enhancing accessibility and acceptability of these services to reach marginalized and vulnerable populations.
« We must strive to eliminate the remaining obstacles preventing individuals from accessing HIV/AIDS screening, prevention, treatment, and care services. Affordability, availability, and acceptability of these services need improvement to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable populations, » she stated, highlighting that AIDS remains one of the major health crises of this era. While significant progress has been made in reducing new infections and deaths related to this disease, she stressed the need to place communities at the forefront of the fight against this epidemic. The chosen theme for this year’s celebration is « Let Communities Lead, » highlighting the crucial role of communities in this battle.
She commended the commitment and resilience of communities, noting that those affected by HIV have always been at the forefront of the response. Their actions were pivotal from the onset of the fight, breaking the silence and stigma, advocating for expanded access to therapies and antiretroviral care.
Furthermore, she urged for a strengthening of community leadership in responding to HIV. This approach, she emphasized, involves providing communities with the necessary tools to monitor their progress, hold decision-makers accountable, and identify gaps and human rights violations in health programs.
She acknowledged that there is still much to be done to eliminate persistent disparities, underscoring the importance of innovation, inclusion, and sustainable strategies to reach those at risk of being marginalized.
The head of UNICEF did not fail to call on governments, civil society, development partners, and all stakeholders to unite in empowering communities in the fight against HIV, advocating for enhanced collaboration between communities, governments, and organizations to build a world without AIDS.
This declaration comes at a crucial moment when the world is committed to eradicating HIV/AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030, reinforcing the need to redouble efforts and commitment to achieve this global goal.
Olivier ADJA
