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- They cite community-based, non-medical screening for HIV infection as an effective measure against this scourge. What does it consist of and what makes it different from other forms of screening?
– Community-based non-medical screening for HIV infection, more commonly known as community HIV screening, is a voluntary HIV counseling and testing service provided by trained community workers rather than health professionals. To this end, rapid tests are used as part of combined testing prevention programs in communities most affected by infections. At ALCS, these community health workers are referred to as community screening counselors. This community screening has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2015 and its effectiveness has been proven.
- Are these actors actually sufficiently valued in the AIDS response ecosystem? What do you recommend to realize the true value of the work done by these actors?
– In 2022, the association’s community screening consultants, real actors in the healthcare sector, carried out almost 66% of the HIV tests carried out in the association environment and were responsible for 81% of the positive tests collected by this sector.
Although the contribution of community health workers to eradicating HIV by 2030 is no longer in doubt, they are not granted status by the state. The ALCS deeply regrets this, particularly as this non-recognition could seriously undermine the acceleration of the Community response to HIV, which is nevertheless essential. For this reason, the ALCS reminds us of the need to recognize the true value of the work of community health workers in the fight against AIDS.
- Where are we in terms of research in terms of developing screening and treatment methods?
– Great progress has been made in recent years in improving the life expectancy of people with HIV and antiretroviral treatment. The side effects are also minimal today. A person living with HIV, being treated and following treatment well is no longer contagious! However, this treatment still does not permanently eliminate the virus and must be taken for life. Research therefore continues to try to find treatments that cure and/or a vaccine that protects against infection.
Meanwhile, intensifying prevention and screening measures and improving connection, support and continuous care are crucial to contain the epidemic. This requires removing the barriers that prevent the most vulnerable populations from accessing these services, by ensuring the effective universalization of universal health coverage, reducing stigma and discrimination, or combating genre-based violence.
- You, who are very close to the population living with HIV, to what extent are you able to step out of the shadows?
– Thanks to our psychosocial support program implemented in 14 cities, 7,590 people with HIV benefited from support in 2022, most of whom do not have social protection or stable income. The number of infectious disease doctors, as well as stigma and discrimination make it so for these people difficult to access treatment and maintain care.
Discrimination and stigmatization related to HIV are unfortunately a reality. For example, people living with HIV who perceive high levels of AIDS-related stigma are 2.4 times more likely to delay enrolling in health care programs until they are very ill. Conversely, where anti-stigma and anti-discrimination programs have been implemented, access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services has improved significantly.
- Finally, what are your future actions within the framework of the National Control Plan implemented by the Kingdom?
– On December 1, ALCS joined UNAIDS’ call to entrust leadership to communities. Our association, a partner of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, will therefore continue to develop and implement community strategies whose effectiveness is no longer in question. With this in mind, we will continue to work to recognize the work of community health workers to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and the most vulnerable communities. It will also involve working towards generalizing access to health services and expanding sexual health services. The measures also concern the strengthening of virtual prevention systems using new information and communication technologies. These are all measures that the ALCS will implement to accelerate the response to HIV.
Collected by Mina ELKHODARI
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