HIV and AIDS
Civil society perspectives on HIV/AIDS policy in Nicaragua, Senegal, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam
Vulnerability to HIV infection has not been sufficiently addressed, particularly for marginalised populations
Authors:
; Public Health Watch, Open Society Institute's Public Health Program
Publisher:
Open Society Institute and Soros Foundations Network, 2007
This report from the Open Society Institute examines groups that are excluded or marginalised from the design, implementation, and evaluation of national HIV/AIDS policies and programmes due to stigma. These groups such as injecting drug users, sex workers, men who have sex with men, prisoners, and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by the epidemic. The report looks at HIV/AIDS policy in Nicaragua, Senegal, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam and documents the varying degrees and different forms that stigma and discrimination against marginalised groups can take.
Key findings from the report include:
- significant barriers to accessing care and treatment remain, even where treatment is provided for “free.” Barriers include costs of transportation, fees associated with HIV diagnosis and treatment, lack of health care infrastructure and inadequate human resource capacity
- stigma and discrimination hinder people from being tested for HIV or receiving adequate care. In many cases, national laws, government policies, and law enforcement practices exacerbate stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS and groups at elevated risk of HIV infection
- few countries have truly integrated tuberculosis (TB) and HIV services or effectively addressed TB and other opportunistic infections, creating significant barriers to the delivery of comprehensive, accessible care and prevention services.
Without urgent attention to these key issues, the internationally declared goal of universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care is not achievable. National governments and international agencies must collaborate more effectively with civil society groups in order to hear their concerns and address their needs. It will only be through the active and meaningful participation of these marginalised, most affected groups that countries will be able to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support and to halt the progress of the HIV epidemic.
[adapted from author]
