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World AIDS Day Celebration
PRESS RELEASE
Decemberr 1, 2009 |
As part of the 21st celebration of World AIDS Day, US Ambassador Niels Marquardt presided over a December 1st round table held by USAID and its implementing partners, Santenet2 and Population Services International. The theme for this year was “right to life, access for all to prevention”. Ambassador Marquardt reiterated the US Government’s commitment to promote effective HIV/AIDS preventive strategies, in partnership with the private sector and civil society.
The US Government’s commit - ments include intensified efforts to provide a large array of pre- ventive programs such as promoting access to education and information on HIV; ensuring full confidentiality and informed consent for HIV testing; broadening access to basic products, including male and female condoms; and expanding early and effective treatment of sexually transmitted infections; and developing strategies to fight disease-related social stigma and exclusion. |
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The round table was attended by representatives of target groups and implementers of SanteNet2 interventions in fighting HIV/AIDS. These included religious leaders and representatives of an umbrella organization for faith-based organizations (PLEROC), sex-worker (AFSA) and men-who-have-sex-with men associations (EZAKA), a young woman from a rural community who is part of a network of youth working to improve their peers’ knowledge of reproductive health and infection prevention; and a member of a Social Development Committee, which work in the communes to promote HIV prevention. Other organizations represented included the UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, local NGOs, private health centers and PSI-supported Top Reseau clinicians.
The participants shared experiences, spoke about lessons learned, and promoted coordination of actions. It was underscored that the risk of HIV infection and its impact are accompanied by human rights violations, including discrimination and violence against women and disenfranchised groups such as sex workers, drug addicts, and men having sex with men. The importance of strengthening these rights as part of an effective response to the epidemic has over the last decade become more crucial than ever.
High risk populations are a main target group for HIV prevention. In keeping with the need to respect the “right to life, access for all to prevention”, USAID’s implementing partners have provided training in negotiation skills to sex workers to help them convince their customers to use condoms.
The Madagascar vision for fighting HIV/AIDS is: “By 2015, Madagascar will be a country where all the Malagasy, especially the youth, are aware of personal risks and work closely with committed national and community leaders to fight HIV/AIDS. Each individual will have easy access to appropriate prevention methods, and use them responsibly. The individual, family, and community will provide care and support to those who are infected with or affected by HIV”. An estimated 12,000 people currently live with HIV/AIDS in Madagascar.
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