News

Epidemic of Fear

aidsalliance.org - The realities of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV remain stark. In my part of the world – the Asia Pacific region – even where treatment is available, there are many people who are still afraid to test for HIV. [This can be] because of the humiliation they face from some healthcare workers, or the stigma they encounter from members of the public who can guess why they are in the queue because of the way health systems are set up.”

Martin Choo, in his essay for our first edition of AIDS Today, sums up how HIV is “the epidemic of fear”. He makes the point that there have been “tremendous gains” with regards to science and medication yet for many people “scientific progress has had limited effect on their daily lives”.

Strengthening health AND community systems

There is reason for excitement around some of these recent ‘tremendous gains’ as Choo describes them. Such as the results from a recent UK-based study called PROUD, which demonstrated the effectiveness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) amongst gay men. Taking PrEP every day, in pill form, is a HIV prevention option for people who are at high risk of getting HIV. (...)

To ensure the well-being of people living with HIV, inclusive community responses must be adequately supported through the new sustainable development goals (SDGs) which replace the Millennium Development Goals at the end of 2015. Read more, including our position on post-2015 health here in: Health in the post-2015 Development Framework