D.38 - Prevention, timely detection and comprehensive treatment of HIV / AIDS and ITS

D.38 - Prevention, timely detection and comprehensive treatment of HIV / AIDS and ITS
Promote the prevention and timely detection of and guarantee universal access to comprehensive treatment for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and eliminate the stigma and discrimination to which persons living with the virus are often subjected.
Priority measure number
38

Comments

With regard to disaggregation by sex and age, UNAIDS recommends that wherever possible data should be disaggregated by key population groups: sex workers, those of a particular sexual orientation, including men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users, and that all HIV indicators should be measured for the entire population, as some of the greatest gaps have to do with the treatment of children.

To eradicate the HIV epidemic, UNAIDS proposes the 90-90-90 objective, according to which, by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status (and 95% by 2030); by 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (and 95% by 2030); and by 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have an undetectable viral load, meaning that their immune system remains strong and they are no longer infected (and 95% by 2030).

 This measure is broadened in priority measure 39 on the vertical transmission of HIV and is complemented by priority measure 12 on sexual and reproductive health for adolescents and young people and priority measure 37 on access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.

Possible lines of action

1. In the normative frameworks on sexual and reproductive health care, maintain the specific features relating to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and consider measures to promote the prevention and timely detection of HIV/AIDS, and access to treatment. 2. Ensure training for all health personnel in the new evidence on HIV and AIDS and on legislation and regulations in this area. 3. Ensure that regulations on sexual and reproductive health services include measures to eliminate the stigma and discrimination to which persons living with or vulnerable to the virus are often subjected. 4. Promote the cultural change needed to eliminate the stigma and discrimination to which persons living with or vulnerable to the virus are often subjected. 5. Develop intersectoral plans with specific coordination for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. 6. Promote HIV screening of women of reproductive age. 7. Earmark the necessary resources for the functioning of sexual and reproductive health programmes and services aimed at the prevention, timely detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. 8. Provide effective and non-discriminatory mechanisms for referral and counter-referral between HIV services and other health services at all levels of care.

Related instruments, forums and mechanisms

Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 3 (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”), target 3.3 (referring to ending, by 2030, the epidemics of AIDS and other communicable diseases).

Santo Domingo Consensus, agreement 72 (“Ensure that the financial resources for HIV/AIDS prevention are allocated to specific measures grounded in scientific evidence that reflects the particular characteristics of the epidemic in each country, with special attention to geographical location, social networks and populations that are vulnerable to HIV infection, with a view to ensuring that those resources are employed as effectively as possible”) and agreement 73 (“Ensure comprehensive care for persons affected by HIV/AIDS, in particular women, girls, adolescents, young persons, orphans and vulnerable children, migrants and people in humanitarian emergencies, detained women, indigenous populations, Afro-descendants and women with disabilities”).

Brasilia Consensus, agreement 6.e (“Ensure also universal access by women in their diversity to comprehensive, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care, including care for human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), its prevention, diagnosis and free treatment, and especially, to carry out campaigns to promote the use of the male and female condoms”).

Quito Consensus, agreement xxv (“Implement measures and policies that take into account the linkages between social and economic vulnerabilities as they relate to women’s possibilities of participating in politics and in paid work, especially in terms of access to sexual and reproductive health care, water and sanitation, and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, with priority being placed on the poorest women and their families”).

Topic
D. Sexual and reproductive health