Civil Society Support Is Key to Ensuring Universal Access to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment
GENEVA—Real progress to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS hinges on the support of civil society and those most affected by the disease, the Open Society Institute (OSI) said in a study released today.
The report, the result of two years of research in Nicaragua, Senegal, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam monitors governments’ progress in providing HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.
According to the study, both wealthy and developing countries frequently exclude marginalized groups—who have difficulty accessing HIV-related programs—from HIV/AIDS policy discussions.
“Comprehensive AIDS programs must address the obstacles that prevent young people, the poor, and socially marginalized groups such as injecting drug users and sex workers from accessing HIV/AIDS services,” said Francoise Girard, Director of Public Health Program at OSI.
The report, Civil Society Perspectives on HIV/AIDS Policy, provides recommendations on how to achieve greater and more meaningful involvement of civil society in designing and implementing HIV programs and policies.
Improvements have been made to increase access to HIV/AIDS services, particularly antiretroviral treatment, but the impact has been severely limited by the failure of governments to make these services available to the most affected and marginalized populations.
“There are barriers to accessing care even where treatment is free,” said Daouda Diouf, the Senegal researcher. “People have to pay for transportation, diagnostic tests and the treatment of related infections. It’s particularly difficult for people in rural areas to access HIV services.”
According to researchers, the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable populations has not been sufficiently addressed.
“In Vietnam, effective responses to curb infection rates among the most vulnerable populations, including injecting drug users and sex workers, have been slow,” said Dr. Oanh Khuat, who conducted research in Vietnam. “To successfully fight this disease, we need to enlist the support of civil society and those most affected by HIV/AIDS.”
The report also stresses the need for increased accountability among governments and international institutions, urging them to follow through on their declared commitments—including universal access.
“We must demand a strategy that holds us all accountable for reducing new HIV/AIDS infections and making treatment and support services available to all who need it,” said Chris Collins, the U.S. researcher.