When zero is a good number

In 2015, new sustainable development goals (SDGs) will replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which world leaders committed to in September 2000. To ‘combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases’ was among the eight MDGs. In this new framework however, we have worked hard to ensure HIV is factored into an overarching health goal. This means we must be explicit about the targets we need to achieve within these.

As Cecilia Kihara, the Alliance’s senior advisor for East and Southern Africa, points out in her blog, the risk is that without such targets many needs may simply be ignored, such as the needs of young people and other people most affected by HIV, including LGBT people, sex workers and people who use drugs.

Health for everyone

That’s why, in addition to the three targets above, another of our recommendations is for a HIV target which ensures people who are all too frequently marginalised or criminalised, are not left behind, and that leaders commit to HIV services for everyone. We suggest the following:

By 2030, ensure that no one is denied health care, including HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and sexual and reproductive health care, due to their HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status.

Double risk

Young people are disproportionately affected by HIV. The WHO recently reported that among 10-19 year olds AIDS-related deaths are increasing, while deaths are decreasing in every other age group. Combine being young with being marginalised for being LGBT, a sex worker, someone who injects drugs or living with HIV, and the associated health risks due to stigma are heightened even more.

That’s why we’ve collaborated, as part of a post-2015 working group, to organise a side event hosted by the Government of Brazil at this month’s Assembly. The event features a panel of young people from marginalised communities in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Uganda and Puerto Rico. The panel will address the crucial role of community in meeting the needs and protecting the rights of young marginalised populations in the post-2015 agenda.

In her article, Key Correspondent Lucy Maroncha, reports how young Africans are also leading the call for stand-alone goals for young people, “I believe it’s time for us African youths to hold our governments accountable to engage youth in ending AIDS, TB, malaria and other communicable diseases, given the fact that the pandemic burden is more felt in Africa,” says Musah Lumumba, a Ugandan youth HIV activist.

To ensure world leaders commit to finishing the job to achieve universal health, no-one can be left behind. You can read our policy briefing and all of our recommendations in full here, Health in the post-2015 Development Framework: How to meet the needs of the most marginalised and excluded. (HIV/AIDS Alliance).