By Naneka Hoffman
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti is calling for a global effort to remove remaining barriers in the fight against HIV/AIDS that prevent individuals from accessing testing, prevention, treatment, and care services.
According to Dr. Moeti, services’ affordability, availability, and acceptability need to be improved to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Speaking over the weekend at celebration of World AIDS Day in Monrovia, he
called on the government, civil society, development partners, and all stakeholders to join in empowering communities to lead the HIV response and to re-commit to providing them with necessary support and autonomy they need to succeed.
“We must recognize the diversity among communities affected by HIV and ensure that tailored interventions are implemented, addressing the specific needs of key populations, such as young and adolescent girls, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, sex workers, and people who inject drugs”, he underscored.
He noted the vital role of communities in addressing the epidemic, adding that it highlights the resilience of communities, expertise, and most of all, the unwavering commitment to the collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
However, Dr. Moeti observed that the leadership of communities has been instrumental to the remarkable milestones in the fight against HIV and AIDS, as communities affected by HIV, including individuals living with the virus, families, friends, and activists, have always been at the forefront of the response.
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He recalls that in the early days of response, when the world was in denial, communities spoke up to fight the silence and stigma, noting that they were at the forefront of the fight against discrimination, and the advocates who campaigned for increased access to antiretroviral therapy and care, ensuring that no one would be left behind.
“As we strive to reach the global targets set for 2025 and 2030, we must continue to create an enabling environment for communities to lead in the HIV response.”
He said an environment that respects and protects their rights, ensuring equitable access to high-quality services and investing in comprehensive prevention, treatment, and support services is paramount.
“I must emphasize the crucial role of community-led monitoring in improving community leadership for HIV. It is important to recognize that effective community leadership goes beyond advocacy and activism. It involves empowering communities with the tools and knowledge to monitor their progress and hold decision-makers accountable.”
Dr. Moeti explained that community-led monitoring has been a powerful mechanism that allows communities to monitor and evaluate HIV programs, policies, and services that directly impact their lives, and help identify human rights violations, stigma, and discrimination within healthcare settings, allowing for prompt interventions and solutions.
He said despite progress made, more grounds must be covered to address the disparities that persist while recognizing that moving forward, the world must prioritize innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable strategies to reach those at risk of being left behind.
WHO Regional Director for Africa said communities should be allowed to lead, and the world needs to listen more to their voices, acknowledge their expertise, and involve them in decision-making at all levels, adding “We must build bridges between communities, governments, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders to foster partnerships based on trust, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
The National AIDS Commission of Liberia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health celebrated World AIDS Day here over the weekend under the Global theme: “Let Communities Lead” with a National theme: “Communities Lead with equality and diversity to end AIDS.”
Dr. Moeti describes AIDS as one of the greatest health crises in human history, but
acknowledges immense progress made in reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths, pointing at strides in increasing access to treatment including the marked progress due to the introduction of new medicines, adoption of new technologies, and combating stigma. Editing by Jonathan Browne
