Position statement – World AIDS Day 2015

Beirut – 30 November, 2015

On 1 December, 2015, the “World AIDS Day”, the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) calls for the commitment in the global theme “Treatment for all people living with HIV” through enabling all people, especially in our region, to get the necessary services and treatment for all people living with HIV.

At the end of the year 2014, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there were approximately 35 million people living with HIV around the world, including 2.1 million people newly infected. Injecting drugs is among the most common methods of transmission of HIV in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. According to MENAHRA statistics, there are more than 570000 People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in the region.

Under this context, MENAHRA stresses the need to spread awareness and promote the importance of early detection of infection. In addition to obtain people living with the virus and that they receive the right to care and treatment. MENAHRA also calls policy makers in the region to adopt strategies of Harm Reduction and incorporate them into the health policy strategies of their countries.

This day also presents an opportunity to promote public awareness of HIV, we have to work as civil society organizations side by side with governments and decision makers to secure funding and support so that everyone has access to treatment and advocacy, in order to raise the level of response and promote Harm Reduction strategies in our region.

Also, MENAHRA re-display its TV spot “World AIDS Day: Drug User Stigma and Discrimination”, tackling different forms of stigma and discrimination faced by drug users, which contribute to marginalization and thus inability to seek required health services, leading to increased HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. You can watch the TV spot on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WMxbu7boeE