Home Health “Covid-19 should not make people forget about HIV” UN Secretary General

“Covid-19 should not make people forget about HIV” UN Secretary General

by Kudakwashe Vhenge

By Lerato Ndlovu


Today the world celebrates World AIDS Day (WAD) under the theme “Global solidarity, resilient HIV services”.


World Aids day is commemorated annually as a means to eliminate stigma and discrimination, put people at the center and ground responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches. 


UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his statement stated that the presence of COVID-19 should not make the world forget about the global pandemic that has existed for more than 40 years.
“With the world’s attention focused on the COVID-19 crisis, World AIDS Day is a reminder of the need to maintain focus on another global pandemic that is still with us nearly 40 years after it emerged.


“Despite significant successes, the AIDS emergency is not over. HIV still infects 1.7 million people each year and kills some 690 000.  And inequalities mean that those who are the least able to stand up for their rights are still the most affected.  


“The HIV response has much to teach the fight against COVID-19.  We know that to end AIDS and defeat COVID-19 we must eliminate stigma and discrimination, put people at the center and ground our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches.”


He went on to say that inequalities in health affect the whole world, no one is safe unless we all are safe and on this WAD the world has to recognize that to overcome these two pandemics COVID-19 and AIDS the world must stand in solidarity and share responsibility for health is a Human Right that must get top priority to achieve universal health coverage.


“Wealth should not determine whether people get the health care they need.  We need a COVID-19 vaccine and HIV treatments and care that are affordable and available to everyone, everywhere”, he added.


Director of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programs Dr Meg Doherty said “On World AIDS Day 2020, we pay tribute to the communities and countries who have shown resilience and innovation – often spearheaded by people themselves living with HIV, This is vital, because while we focus on fighting this new pandemic, we must not drop our guard on a twin pandemic that has been with us for 40 years and which is far from over.”


UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima said the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the progress that the world has made in health and development over the past 20 years, including the gains we have made against HIV, widening the inequalities that already existed.


“I am proud that over the past year the HIV movement has mobilized to defend our progress, to protect people living with HIV and other vulnerable groups and to push the corona virus back.” She said.

“Whether campaigning for multi month dispensing of HIV treatment, organizing home deliveries of medicines or providing financial assistance, food and shelter to at-risk groups, HIV activists and affected communities have again shown they are the mainstay of the HIV response. I salute you!”.

“It is the strength within communities, inspired by a shared responsibility to each other, that has contributed in great part to our victories over HIV. Today, we need that strength more than ever to beat the colliding epidemics of HIV and COVID-19”.


She stated that the world cannot make the same mistake it did when responding to the fight against HIV on COVID-19, when millions in developing countries died waiting for treatment.


Today more that 12 million people are waiting to get on HIV treatment and 1.7 million people became infected with HIV in 2019 because they could not access essential service, hence the reason why UNAIDS has been the leading advocate for a People’s Vaccine against the corona virus.


“Our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic was already off track before COVID-19. We must put people first to get the AIDS response back on track. We must end the social injustices that put people at risk of contracting HIV. And we must fight for the right to health. There is no excuse for governments to not invest fully for universal access to health. Barriers such as up-front user fees that lock people out of health must come down.


“As we approach the end of 2020 Women and girls must have their human rights fully respected, and the criminalization and marginalization of gay men, transgender people, sex workers and people who use drugs must stop for the world is  dangerous place and the months ahead will not be easy,” she said.

UNAIDS Zimbabwe Country Director, Ms Sophia Mukasa Monico said the COVID-19 had given the world an opportunity to reflect on the progress as well as find better ways to deal with HIV even in the presence of another epidemic.


“I believe we all realize that COVID-19 has demonstrated that during a pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe. Leaving people behind is not an option if we are to succeed in eliminating stigma and discrimination. People at the center and grounding our responses in human rights and gender responses approaches are key to ending the colliding pandemics of HIV and COVID-19.


 “The leadership and engagement of communities which is instrumental to the success of the AIDs response has also been key in responding to COVID-19. We have seen countless examples of how community activism and solidarity have once again been paramount in providing people affected by HIV with information, services, social protection and hope. However, such solidarity cannot be the sole responsibility of communities. It has to be shared responsibility.


“Therefore government, donors, faith leaders, civil society and each and everyone of us need to contribute in making the world a healthier place Global Solidarity and Shared responsibility requires us to view global health responses including the AIDS response in a new way. It requires the world to come together to ensure that health is fully financed. Governments must come together and find new ways to ensure that healthcare is fully funded. No one country can do it alone, domestic and international funding for health must be increased.”


She added that there was likely to be a shortage of lifesaving Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs globally and applauded the Health Minister for taking steps towards ensuring that the availability of drugs won’t be affected.


National AIDS Council on its social media platforms stated that the organization coordinated the recording of various acts by the ARTS industry with technical support from National Arts Council. The acts include music, dance, drama, spoken word and virtual arts. The recorded acts will be live streamed on NAC and Heart and Soul social media platforms from 27th November 2020 to 1 December 2020.  The live streaming will be from 1900-2000hrs, so as to incline with the COVID -19 regulations.

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