Almost a quarter of the world’s 39.9 million people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are not receiving any treatment, meaning one person dies every minute from AIDS-related causes, according to Humana Fundación Pueblo para. Pueblo.
The organization highlighted its collaboration under the People to People Federation, whose Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) program aims to combat HIV and AIDS through prevention, care and support using a people-led strategy. work side by side with communities on the ground.
“Only people can free themselves from this epidemic,” they said in the program, which aims to ensure that every person takes the initiative to know their HIV status and “actively” cooperate to stop its spread.
This way, HIV-positive people are expected to receive the treatment they need to save their lives, suppress the virus and stop its spread, Humana said in a statement ahead of World AIDS Day this Sunday.
The organization highlighted that more than 24 million people in Asia and Africa have benefited from preventive measures, access to diagnostic tests and appropriate treatment, and quality health care, all thanks to the above-mentioned program, which has been implemented in these regions for more than two years. decades.
Humana recalled that its goals from its inception have been to expand access to essential HIV care services (providing HIV testing, prevention education and treatment to communities most in need), ending stigma (encouraging open dialogue and understanding, creating an enabling environment for people living with HIV) and empowering people (providing communities with the knowledge and resources they need to take responsibility for their health and well-being).
She also subscribed to the “Let’s walk the path of rights” motto proposed by UNAIDS, which states that “with human rights at the center and communities at the forefront, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”
“The significant progress made in the fight against HIV is directly related to progress in protecting human rights. In turn, progress made in the response to HIV has led to broader progress in realizing the right to health and strengthening health systems,” he added.
In this sense, they insisted that the protection of human rights is an “essential pillar” for ensuring an effective response to HIV, so they asked that the health of all people be protected by protecting their rights.
Humana also warned that UNAIDS’ purpose “could be at risk if funding is cut and human rights are curtailed”, leading to “continued growth of the pandemic” and “undermining” global health.