“He World AIDS Day this year reminds us that AIDS can be beaten if leaders adopt a rights-based approach so that all peopleparticularly the most vulnerable, can obtain the services they need without fear,” said the Secretary General of the UN.
In his message for the day celebrated every December 1, António Guterres said that it is feasible to end AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030, and explained that to achieve that goal, the obstacles that hinder access to vital services must be removed.
The figures of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that every 25 seconds a person contracts HIV, and that a quarter of them – more than nine million – do not have access to treatment that can save their lives.
Discriminatory laws and policies
“Discriminatory laws, policies and practices punish and stigmatize vulnerable peopleespecially women, girls and minorities, because they prevent them from accessing proven prevention measures, tests, treatments and care,” said Guterres.
However, he recalled, global solidarity and human rights have driven inspiring advances in the global response to HIV.
In this sense, António Guterres maintained that AIDS can be overcome “if we make sure to protect the rights of all people, everywhere”, which is why he urged all leaders to act by taking the path of rights.
Campaign to reduce stigma and promote prevention
To mark World AIDS Day, the Pan American Health Organization (OPS) launched the campaign “Better with PrEP“, with the aim of expanding access to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The campaign, which puts human rights at the center of the response to HIV, seeks reduce stigma and promote HIV prevention in populations at higher risk of acquiring it.
The number of AIDS-related deaths in Latin America decreased by 28% between 2010 and 2023, while in the Caribbean the reduction was 57%. However, new HIV infections have shown different trends in that period, with new cases increasing by 9% in Latin America to reach around 120,000 infections in 2023, and infections decreasing by 22% in the Caribbean to reach 15,000 cases. .
The PAHO director stressed that the increase in new HIV infections since 2010 in Latin America, especially in key populations such as men who have sex with men, trans women and sex workers, “shows us that we cannot let our guard down.”
Jarbas Barbosa stressed the urgent need to implement more accessible prevention strategies and effective.
Efficient medicine
The campaign seeks to increase awareness about PrEP, a medication highly effective in preventing HIV when taken consistently.
Although this preventive intervention has been shown to be crucial for the control of HIV in the region, its adoption remains limited. By the end of 2024, 24 of 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean had adopted PrEP as a public health policy, and although more than 160,000 people already benefit from its use, efforts continue to get closer to the goal of 2.3 million in the region.
“Today, we call on all countries in the region to transform the reality of HIV with inclusive and expanded PrEP policies. The elimination of HIV is possible, but only if we act with courage and commitment,” Jarbas Barbosa insisted.
Alliance with social network
In an effort to reach populations at greatest risk, PAHO has strengthened its collaboration with Grindr, the social network aimed at the LGBTQI+ community. This alliance will allow dissemination of key information about PrEP and other sexually transmitted infections through the application, which has millions of users in Latin America and the Caribbean.
PrEP, recommended by the WHO since 2015, is a preventive option for people who are not living with HIV but are at significant risk of contracting it. By taking a daily pill, the risk of contracting HIV can be reduced by more than 90% during unprotected exposure.
90s pop culture
The PAHO campaign uses an aesthetic inspired by 90s pop culture that incorporates visual elements such as patterns of graffiti, cassette tapes and CD textures vintage to convey a message of empowerment and solidarity.
In addition, eye-catching animations are used and educational messages about PrEP, HIV, syphilis and mpox, adapted for dissemination on social networks.
The purpose is to reduce the stigma around PrEP and increase its adoption, promoting its use as one of the best forms of protection against HIV, along with the use of condoms and regular screening tests.
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