Funding, Contexts and Resources behind the drive to eradicate HIV

The need to increase funding HIV Response; Awareness, Advocacy, Action to eradicate HIV[1]

Introduction:

HIV epidemic response is tied to bio-social-medical transmission Strata. The first stratum has the following transmission routes: penile-vaginal unprotected sex; mother-child transmission; infected blood/body fluids exchange. The second stratum: Un-protected anal-penetration/sex; un-protected vaginal-penetration/sex; un-protected oral sex, re-infection from un-protected sex and prevention with positives. At the third stratum one finds: infection as a result of occupation-related hazards.

HIV Response with a Human Face:

In all transmission contexts human beings are involved. Disaggregating practices, risks, behaviour (vulnerabilities) and population groups behind the vulnerabilities will give one better planning and programming approaches.

Penile-vaginal unprotected sex; mother-child transmission; infected blood/body fluids exchange:

The strategies to address this: Abstinence, fidelity and consistent condom use; treatment as prevention; family planning methods integrating young persons’ friendly services, integrating HIV/STI prevention methods; integrating HPV Immunization/cervical cancer examination, conscientious breast-feeding under trained counsellors; introduction and use of safe injections and blood/body fluids equipments that protect against infections.

Un-protected anal-penetration/sex; un-protected vaginal-penetration/sex; un-protected oral sex, re-infection from un-protected sex and prevention with positives:

The strategies to address this: Abstinence, fidelity and consistent condom use; treatment as prevention; family planning methods integrating young persons, sex-work/LGBTIQQ/Injecting drug-user-friendly HIV/STI prevention methods; integrating HPV Immunization/cervical cancer examination, conscientious breast-feeding under trained counsellors; introduction and use of safe injections and blood/body fluids equipments that protect against infections; introduction and use of anal-oral-vaginal protective prophylactics and; prevention as treatment.

Infection as a result of occupation-related hazards:

The interventions include; introduction of safe injections to avoid ‘needle-stick’ or re-use; Introduction and use of PEP/PrEP and use of protective wear/HazMat to avoid infection with contaminated blood/body fluids.

Evidence-based interventions arise as needs from presenting communities, population groups or individuals. With time:

1.      The population groups that face unique vulnerabilities form self determination epochs to voice their needs as one.

2.      With better access, one notes longer lives and change in demands.

As population groups continue to engage in self determination this drives policy and programming level stakeholders need to take into consideration the categories making unique demands. In the fight against HIV these are the voices to listen to. Consider the three scenarios below:

CASE 1:

A female sex-worker, who is also a mother of 2 children, approaches a health worker and reveals she wants to have another baby but also continue as a sex-worker.

CASE 2:

A girl of 21 years, who was born with HIV, approaches a social-worker and reveals she wants to have three children with a man who she has decided will be the husband.

CASE 3:

A woman-who-has-sex-with-another woman (wsw) approaches a health-worker and reveals she wants to have a child with a man.

Policy, programming level stakeholders need to be in position for such population groups since they constitute an emerging demography. With increased transparency and accountability these population groups should be left to have a larger hand in running the affairs of their organizations or spaces. Income inequalities drive vulnerabilities. These need to be addressed through employable skills’ empowerment. As we move towards 2015 empowering communities against vulnerabilities is key in fighting and eradicating HIV. Investing in HIV Vaccines and drugs will find a well built base if all the above are put in consideration.

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[1] This is part of the HIV MDG Progress awareness, advocacy and Action Project. Follow us on: hivmdgprogressactivism.blogspot.com or marpsinuganda.blogspot.com