World AIDS Day is an opportunity to remind the world that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains one of the most transmitted viruses at the global level and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
On this occasion, MENAHRA calls to increase efforts to stop the spread of HIV and its impact on the society by providing universal access to treatment without exception, in addition into promoting behavior change to decrease risk of contraction, and increasing access to prevention materials.
Injecting drugs is one of methods of transmission of HIV in the MENA region. The total number of People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) from 20 countries in the region is estimated to be around 570,000, with high prevalence noted in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan. Therefore, in an effort to reduce spread of HIV and to rise above repressive laws affecting PWID, MENAHRA calls for policy makers in the region to adopt strategies of Harm Reduction and incorporate them into the health policy strategies of their countries.
The volatile security situation in a number of countries of the region has led to the displacement of a large number of refugees, who have been forced to re-locate within the region and internationally. The large number of refugees, and their increased risk of exposure to a number of risks, including sexual abuse, drug use, rape and others, has caused a change in priorities among governments which led to a decline in their commitment to the HIV response, despite the increase in the reported number of new HIV cases worldwide.
This day also presents an opportunity to promote public awareness of HIV, which affects PWID in the region and elsewhere. It is an opportunity to raise our voices to express the need to secure funding and support for the establishment of research institutions, the need for stronger advocacy to raise the level of response and promote Harm Reduction strategies, and the need for civil society organizations to work alongside governmental institutions and implementers of national policies in order to achieve the overall goal of stopping the spread of HIV.
