World AIDS Day, commemorated every December 1st, highlights the urgent need to take a rights-based approach to ensure that all people, especially the most vulnerable, have access to essential services for HIV prevention. In his message for this day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the possibility of eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030, as long as barriers to vital services are removed.
Statistics presented by the World Health Organization are alarming: every 25 seconds, someone contracts HIV, and over nine million people do not receive the treatment necessary to save their lives. This situation is worsened by discriminatory laws and policies that perpetuate stigma against vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls, and minorities, restricting their access to prevention, testing, and treatment.
Despite these challenges, Guterres highlighted significant progress made through global solidarity and human rights advocacy. He stated that protecting the rights of all people is crucial in overcoming AIDS, and called on leaders to take concrete actions in this regard.
In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the Pan American Health Organization launched the “Better with PrEP” campaign, aiming to expand access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative is designed to reduce stigma and promote HIV prevention among the most vulnerable populations.
According to the latest data, while AIDS-related deaths in Latin America have decreased by 28% between 2010 and 2023, new infections have increased by 9%, highlighting the need for more effective and accessible prevention strategies. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, emphasized that the rise in cases, particularly among men who have sex with men, transgender women, and sex workers, underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance in the fight against HIV.
PrEP has emerged as a key tool in HIV control due to its high efficacy when taken consistently. However, its implementation is still limited. Currently, only 24 out of 33 countries in the region have adopted PrEP as a public health policy, and while over 160,000 people currently benefit from it, the goal is to reach 2.3 million beneficiaries.
In an effort to reach the most vulnerable populations, PAHO has partnered with Grindr, a social network for the LGBTQI+ community. This alliance aims to disseminate information about PrEP and other sexually transmitted infections among millions of users in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The campaign features a visually inspired approach from 90s pop culture, using elements such as graffiti and cassette tapes to convey a message of empowerment and solidarity. It focuses on reducing stigma associated with PrEP and promoting its use, along with condoms and regular testing, as the most effective ways to protect against HIV.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
