Positioning HIV interventions in the face of the coronavirus: our shared responsibility

Opinions on Monday, November 30, 2020

Columnist: Cecilia Senoo

2020-11-30

Every year on December 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. On this day, the world comes together to show its support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives due to the pandemic.

The celebration also focuses on national / global interventions to end HIV. This year is another opportunity to show solidarity and take stock of what has been achieved so far to ensure that HIV does not continue to erode the achievements made by countries on various fronts of their economies and the construction of their human capital, by Realize that the COVID-Pandemic has disrupted the provision of HIV-related services, treatment and care and has put more people at risk.

This year’s theme is Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility.
According to UNAIDS, as of 2019, it was estimated that adults and children living with HIV in Ghana were 342,307. It was also estimated that 219,986 women living with HIV in 2019, representing 64% of PLHIV.

Statistics continue to show a gender infection in Ghana to the detriment of women and girls. Numerous efforts – resource investments, targeted interventions, as well as research and development – have led to immense progress in prevention, treatment, and care to defeat HIV.

The results of a very recent study showing the effectiveness of long-acting injectable drugs (cabotegravir) in preventing HIV among women; The positive opinion on the efficacy of the dapivirine vaginal ring in reducing the risk of HIV infection in women adds to the progress made in the fight against the disease.

According to UNAIDS, globally, increased access to HIV treatment has prevented around 12.1 million AIDS-related deaths since 2010. This victory requires celebration, as it has led to a significant reduction in HIV transmission and related deaths. Progress, although remarkable, has been uneven, especially in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy.

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting HIV prevention, treatment and care services, in addition to reversing progress made to defeat the disease as governments divert increased health resources to combat COVID-19.

According to UNAIDS, a complete six-month break in HIV treatment could cause more than 500,000 additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa over the next year (2020-2021), bringing the region to 2008 HIV mortality levels.

Adolescent girls and young women continue to face unacceptably high risks of HIV infection in countries with a high burden, such as Ghana. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been exacerbated by closures and extended periods of school absence, leading to early marriages, unplanned pregnancies, gender-based violence, and a reduction in girls’ school enrollment, increasing your vulnerability.

More than ever, urgent and unremitting efforts are needed from governments, donors, the private sector, civil society and communities to ensure a continued focus on HIV interventions. This will help sustain efforts to defeat HIV and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on HIV to prevent new infections and deaths.
Agile leadership and community engagement are necessary for a successful response to HIV. Community participation and solidarity have been essential in providing people affected by HIV with information, services, social protection and hope. This kind of solidarity on the part of all stakeholders is necessary to defeat HIV.

Putting people at the center of the response to HIV and COVID-19 and cementing efforts on human rights and gender-sensitive approaches are key to ending the two diseases. Realizing the extreme vulnerability of young women and girls, there is a need to expand prevention programs for adolescent girls and young women for prevention, care and treatment services.

A greater commitment to health is needed through greater allocation of national and international resources for health and efficient allocation and use of resources.

This will help defeat HIV and COVID-19 and prevent further loss of achievement in the critical fight against HIV. Efforts to defeat the two diseases must ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the health care they need when they need it. No one should be left behind because health care is a human right to which access should not depend at all on a person’s financial prowess.

The COVID-19 crisis is a wake-up call, an opportunity to invest better and together to achieve desired health outcomes. To a large extent, the end of HIV as a public health threat and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being for all depends on how well COVID-19 is addressed.