TANJI – WEST COAST REGION
Each year, on 1st December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, and the year 2024, the theme is ‘take the rights path’. The substantial progress that has been made in the HIV response is directly linked to progress in protecting human rights. In turn, the progress made through the HIV response has galvanized broader progress in realizing the right to health and strengthening health systems.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date, raise awareness about the challenges that remain to achieve the goals of ending AIDS by 2030 and mobilize all stakeholders to jointly redouble efforts to ensure the success of the HIV response. This annual event serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost, and a rallying cry to continue working towards a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat.
With human rights at the center, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.But gaps in the realization of human rights for all are keeping the world from getting on the path that ends AIDS and are hurting public health, and now a surge in attacks on rights is threatening to undermine the progress that has been made.
Ending AIDS requires that we reach and engage everyone who is living with, at risk or affected by HIV – especially including people who have been most excluded and marginalized. Gender equality is an essential element of an approach to AIDS that is grounded in human rights. Acceptance, respect and care are vital. Laws, policies and practices that punish, discriminate against or stigmatize people – because they are women or girls, or from key populations, or from other marginalized communities – obstruct access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. So do laws, policies and practices that hinder the work of people who are providing vital HIV services for affected communities or who are advocating for reforms.
The path that ends AIDS is a rights path. Upholding the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and fostering inclusion of all communities, are essential for ending AIDS, for ensuring sustainable development and for human security. There is an urgent need to remove criminal and other laws which harm people’s rights, and an urgent need to enact laws and approaches which uphold the rights of every person. The mandates in the international human rights framework have the force of law, and communities have the right to hold duty-bearers accountable for adherence to the human rights commitments they have made. It’s time to remind ourselves of the importance of compassion, empathy, and solidarity in the face of adversity. The progress we have made in the HIV and AIDS response required governments, the community, civil society, advocates, activists, the faith-based community, and public and private organizations to come together for the shared goal to save lives and change the course of the HIVand AIDS pandemic.
Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment with the advent and availability of highly effective Antiretrovirals (ARVs) that suppresses the virus that causes AIDS. Despite these achievements, many new infections occur each year, a good number of people still do not know how to protect themselves, stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with HIV.
HIV prevalence in the country remains relatively low at 1.9% and 1.3% according to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) 2013 and National Sentinel Studies (NSS), 2023 respectively. The Government of The Gambia through the coordination of the National AIDS Secretariat and the guidance of the National AIDS Council Chaired by His Excellency President Adama Barrow remains committed to the creation of an enabling environment through concrete actions and policies that will facilitate strengthening of the gains made in the national response.
In 2024 UNAIDS estimated that 26,497 people are living with HIV. In The Gambia, only 15,898 (60%) know their HIV status. Of those who know their status, 10313 (65 %) were receiving treatment and 61% (6,581) of those on ART had a suppressed viral load. The country, therefore, needs to redouble her efforts in improving access to testing and treatment and address stigma and discrimination as they continue to be compounding factors to the utilization of HIV and AIDS services.
The Ministry of Health through its National AIDS Control Program and partners such as the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG), the UN system, Country Coordinating Mechanism and other key stakeholders will continue to spearhead the HIV and AIDS national response. There are 23 ART sites and 76 PMTCT-centers across the country aimed at increasing access and coverage to HIV services. The Gambia is fully implementing the test and treat All strategy and the HIV Differentiated Services Delivery (DSD) in the current Grant (GC7) to increase access to ARVs. Differentiated Service Delivery is a client-centered approach designed to reach out to all PLHIVs wherever they want to take their medications. This development has since addressed some of the challenges of accessing HIV services and has enhanced better and wider community coverage to HIV services.
In conclusion, as we observe World AIDS Day, let’s remind ourselves the upholding of everyone’s human rights is an essential underpinning of an effective HIV response. This World AIDS Day is a call to action to protect everyone’s health by protecting everyone’s rights. Leaders need to take the rights path. The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.
I therefore urge every one of us to show solidarity and compassion to those already infected and or affected by HIV and AIDS. End the human rights violation, End AIDS and eventually End the Pandemic
I thank you all for your kind attention.