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Addressing HIV/AIDS in Austria

HIV/AIDS in AustriaIn 1983, the spread of HIV/AIDS made Austria sound its alarm bells. Though the country only saw six cases that year, that number jumped to 381 by 1985. Since then, there have been huge strides in both treatment and acceptance that give HIV/AIDS victims a chance at a normal life.

Every Statistic Represents a Life

The alpine nation of Austria only makes up a small percentage of overall HIV/AIDS infections. According to the Austrian HIV Cohort Study, since the beginning of data collection in 1985, there have approximately been a total of 11,154 HIV diagnoses; 3,510 resulting in AIDS. Overall 2,859 people have succumbed to the disease.

The same study furthermore shows that throughout the years new infections have consistently stayed under 500, hitting their peak in 2008 with 415. In 2023 newly reported cases totaled 114, and currently, Austria ranks 120th worldwide in overall HIV rates in adults.

Like in most other countries, medical treatments and prevention are paramount in the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In Austria, 98.2% of patients are currently receiving antiretroviral regimens, and in 2022, 232 people were taking non-occupational antiretroviral drugs to impede the spread of the illness. This was an increase from 144 in 2016. Medications such as PrEP have also seen an uptick, from five prescriptions in 2016, when it first became available, to 1,270 in March of 2023, according to the Austrian HIV Cohort Study. Therapeutic advances like the previously mentioned means that contracting HIV/AIDS in Austria, and globally, is no longer a death sentence.

Additionally, expecting mothers get screened for HIV/AIDS as part of the Mother-Child booklet to qualify for childcare allowance. This allows for women to receive financial assistance and should the test be positive, gives providers a chance to provide care for both mom and baby.

Nobody Should Be Left Behind

The government assists citizens who are unable to work due to illnesses or other hardships. This comes in the form of the “Sozialhilfe” (social help) or “Mindestsicherung” (minimum security) to cover basic living costs. However, this keeps people just below the poverty line.

Depending on how the virus progresses, people with HIV/AIDS in Austria can continue to work, and it is illegal for any employer to discriminate against anyone with a positive status or ask any employee if they have HIV/AIDS. These laws are part of the de-stigmatization of the disease, and not ostracizing victims as was the norm during the beginning of the epidemic. Austria never saw the devastating numbers that other countries did, but it soon became a large part of the effort to advocate for more tolerance for people who are afflicted by the virus.

The Life Ball

In 1993, 10 years after the first diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in Austria, Gery Keszler and Torgorm Petrosian founded the organization called AIDS LIFE. In that same year, it held the first Life Ball in Vienna’s city hall. Petrosian himself was affected by the disease and the goal was to raise funds for national efforts to support others suffering from HIV/AIDS. Just one year later, the event already rose to international recognition and now collected donations for international relief.

Always held under a different theme, the ball becomes a magnet for fashion designers like the late Vivienne Westwood. AIDS LIFE then began to expand and in 2001 worked with other international projects, notably The Elton John Aids Foundation. The Life Ball then began to attract more and more celebrities and politicians, who joined the fight against the illness.

Although, wider publicity helped ease the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and for those who had contracted the virus, the ball took a pause in 2016 to return in 2017 with a refocused effort not on the spectacle but on “Fighting AIDS & Celebrating Life!” AIDS LIFE also rebranded itself to LIFE+ and launched the Know Your Status campaign to normalize HIV testing.

The fundraiser occurred the last time in 2019 and throughout its 26 years of existence, LIFE+ collected more than $34 million in donations.

For those who are also experiencing homelessness and/or drug addiction there is the Lighthouse organization in Vienna. Since 2000 the nonprofit has run a supported housing project, the only one in the country for people with HIV/AIDS. Its main mission is to highlight the humanity of people cast aside and to help their clients regain their lives.

Looking Ahead

Anybody can make a difference. No matter the cause, no matter how big the challenge, all it takes is one person with an idea. In the case of the Life Ball, it was two people, but Keszler’s and Petrosian’s story shows that small efforts can snowball into positive systemic changes and advances that might not have seemed possible.

– Melissa Harper-France

Melissa is based in Saint Paul, MN, USA and focuses on World News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Comoros HIV Prevention

How Comoros is Succeeding Against HIV In Comoros, a small island nation, efforts to combat HIV through the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program are yielding promising results. According to the National Health Service (NHS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises the immune system, hindering the body’s ability to fight infections. The virus, transmissible through bodily fluids, can pass from mother to child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. However, PMTCT programs are proving effective, with proper health care reducing transmission rates to under 1%.

Challenges in PMTCT Implementation

HIV is deadly, killing 50% of infected children before their second birthday if they do not receive treatment. PMTCT is crucial, as it accounted for 90% of child HIV infections in 2018. Unfortunately, in lower-income countries, mother-and-child services and PMTCT programs often face staffing and resource shortages, making it challenging for countries and organizations to implement these programs on a large scale.

Global guidance, including WHO’s Strategic Direction 4, mandates that policies and programs ensure services are culturally appropriate and responsive to community needs, addressing stigma, discrimination and social and structural barriers. Institutions such as UNICEF are working toward eradicating AIDS by 2030, in partnership with the Global Alliance to End AIDS among children and adolescents and the UNAIDS Joint program. These organizations’ goals focus on widespread HIV testing and treatment to combat the epidemic.

Global Efforts and Local Success in Comoros

In Comoros, continued efforts from PMTCT programs have reduced HIV prevalence to just 0.03% among expectant mothers. The Ministry of Health implemented a national policy that mandates training health workers and raising awareness among pregnant women during prenatal consultations. This approach has yielded impressive results: no HIV-positive mothers have given birth to HIV-positive children and all HIV-positive pregnant women received ARV treatment by 2021.

Comoros’ PMTCT Achievements and Future Goals

The PMTCT program in Comoros has achieved remarkable success, partly due to international assistance. In 2020, UNICEF supplied health facilities with critical equipment and supplies, including reagents for HIV testing, essential for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This support plays a crucial role in the Ministry of Health’s strategy, focusing on testing and training.

While Comoros has made significant progress, its mission continues. The Health Ministry has launched an ambitious strategy for 2025 aimed at eradicating new HIV infections in infants born to HIV-positive mothers, ensuring that three-quarters of pregnant women know their HIV status and reducing new infections by 75% from 2020 levels.

Looking Ahead

Comoros is poised to continue its successful implementation of the PMTCT program, aiming to eliminate new HIV infections among newborns. With international support and effective local strategies, the nation expects to significantly reduce transmission rates. The Ministry of Health’s proactive measures in training and equipping health care providers could further strengthen the program’s effectiveness. By 2025, Comoros aims to have the majority of pregnant women aware of their HIV status, a critical step in prevention efforts. These concerted efforts are vital for sustaining progress and achieving the goal of eradicating AIDS in children and adolescents within the nation.

– Rachael Denton-Snape

Rachael is based in High Wycombe, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How the Global Fund Is Fighting HIV/AIDS

The Global FundThe Global Fund is a “Global Health Partnership” that receives funds from different sources, including the private sector, foundations and governments, to fight human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), Malaria and Tuberculosis. The partnership was established in 2002 and has saved 59 million lives by investing more than $60 billion in global health care systems to help ensure equal access to care across the world. The Fund’s HIV/AIDS goals include, but are not limited to, fulfilling the World Health Organization’s “Treat All” guidance and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) 95-95-95 strategy.

What Is HIV/AIDS?

HIV is a virus that damages a person’s immune system, making them more susceptible to infections and other diseases. AIDS, on the other hand, is used to describe the often life-threatening infections and illnesses that occur after damage to the immune system has been caused by HIV.

HIV can be contracted by anyone through the body fluids of an infected person, through unprotected sex, sharing needles or transmission from mother to baby (via pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding). When discussing these interrelated terms, it is important to note that while HIV can be transmitted, AIDS cannot be.

With HIV treatment, “most people” can be prevented from developing AIDS-related illnesses and can get to the point of having an “undetectable viral load.”

WHO’s Treat All Guidance and USAID’s 95-95-95 Strategy

HIV is a global health care problem and as such, global organizations have set strategies in place. In 2016, the WHO launched the “Treat All” plan to tackle the number of people living with HIV, where it recommended that “all people living with HIV be provided with antiretroviral therapy (ART)” with the aim of reaching all 37 million with the virus.

Furthermore, USAID has set out another global strategy. Its 95-95-95 strategy is an HIV plan that has the following aims for 2025:

  • 95% of women in their reproductive years receive comprehensive HIV and sexual and reproductive health services.
  • 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women diagnosed with HIV achieve viral load suppression.
  • 95% of children born to HIV-positive mothers undergo testing for potential exposure to the virus.

The Global Fund says it is “making significant progress” toward fulfilling both the WHO and USAID guidance.

Key Populations and Why They Matter

The WHO defines a key population as a group that “frequently face legal and social challenges that increase their vulnerability to HIV, including barriers to accessing HIV prevention, treatment and other health and social services.” According to USAID, 70% of new HIV infections occur in key populations and can go unresolved due to factors like stigma, human rights violations and violence.

The Global Fund has found that due to COVID-19, progress in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDs was reduced, with key populations being left behind, including children, adolescent girls and young women. For instance, there is a high disparity in care between children and adults, with 43% of HIV-positive children being unable to access lifesaving treatment compared to 23% of HIV-positive adults. Targeted health care tailored to these populations is crucial. Failure to address their infection rates undermines the long-term goal of eradicating HIV and AIDS.

What Has the Global Fund Done?

So far, the Global Fund has invested more than $25.5 billion in global HIV/AIDS care, providing more than a quarter of all international financing for this disease. Furthermore, in 2022, the organization provided antiretrovirals for 24.5 million people. In the same year, more than 15 million people, including 710,000 HIV-positive expectant mothers, received preventative care as a result of the partnership.

In fact, in the countries where it provided care, 82% of mothers were able to prevent the spreading of HIV to their babies. Moreover, due to the high number of HIV tests carried out, 53.1 million, the Global Fund was able to create a 72% reduction in AIDS-related deaths in countries where it operates.

The partnership has also identified 13 countries that have been made a priority, where key populations such as young women and adolescent girls are specifically targeted to benefit from HIV prevention programs. This is because they are “more than three times as likely” to contract HIV than their male counterparts.

Looking Ahead

In July 2021, the Global Fund released its 2023-2028 strategy, a continuation of all the work that it has done so far to improve health care outcomes globally. Its mission is officially to “To attract, leverage and invest additional resources to end the epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, reduce health inequities and support attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Ultimately, it aims to create a world that is healthier and better for all.

– Rachael Denton-Snape

Rachael is based in High Wycombe, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Niger’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies and Government Initiatives

Niger's HIV/AIDSNiger is a landlocked country in West Africa that boasts a youthful demographic, with 58% of its population aged less than 18. Compared to many other sub-Saharan African countries, Niger has made notable strides in addressing its disease burden indicators. Presently, Niger’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate stands below 1%, with 0.2% among adults aged 15 to 49.

According to reports by Global Fund, the rise in new cases has significantly fallen by three-quarters since 2002. This progress can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of the government and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), which have played pivotal roles in advancing Niger’s fight against HIV/AIDS over the years.

Efforts by Niger Government

In 2011, the Niger government committed to preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, with the aim to eliminate HIV infections in infant children by 2015. This commitment is evident in the increased funding allocated to expand Niger’s PMTCT services, which rose from 2.6% of its total budget in 2010 to 15.9% in 2011. Similarly, Niger expanded its PMTCT pilot sites from seven in 2003 to 651 in 2012. Currently, HIV/AIDS infection among exposed infants is nearly non-existent, with 26,000 children born to HIV-positive mothers remaining uninfected and the current HIV prevalence rate among infants is 5%.

Additionally, condom social marketing was introduced in Niger in 2003 as part of the government’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Targeted distribution of condoms has been a key strategy, with mobile vendors and kiosks providing access to condoms even along major transportation routes. The provision of free condoms has led to positive changes in sexual behavior. Between 2006 and 2011, there was a significant increase in the percentage of young men engaging in protected casual sex, rising from 38% to 66%.

Furthermore, in Niger, the health care sector offers HIV counseling and testing (HCT) as an integrated part of health services, available at blood transfusion centers and PMTCT sites. In 2008, the country had 172 HCT sites. However, by 2012, only 7-8% of females and 3% of males had undergone HIV testing. The higher percentage among women is attributed to PMTCT-related HCT services. The same year, the government allocated specific resources for provider-initiated counseling and testing (PICT). This initiative aimed to target individuals who were already in contact with the health sector and those at risk of HIV infection due to factors like multiple sex partners, unprotected sex or a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Efforts by External Support

The Global Fund plays a critical role as a significant grant provider for Niger’s HIV/AIDS initiatives. Out of the total active grants amounting to €153.50 million (about $165 million) from 2021 to 2024, about 10% is directly allocated for HIV interventions in the country. Despite the relatively low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Niger, specific key populations, such as prisoners, sex workers and homosexual individuals, remain disproportionately affected. Testing rates also continue to be low, with approximately 25% of adults and 50% of children unaware of their HIV status.

Between 2007 and 2012, the Global Fund grants accounted for 28% of the country’s spending on HIV/AIDS interventions. The Global Fund grants aim to achieve ambitious targets such as reducing new HIV infections and mortality rates, enhancing living conditions for people living with HIV and strengthening both the demand for and supply of quality health care and services for the entire population.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also supported the Niger government in its fight against HIV and AIDS in 2018. UNICEF worked on a plan to increase HIV testing, treatment and PMTCT. By the end of the year, 96% of health facilities were providing PMTCT services. However, only 10% of babies born to HIV-positive moms were tested for HIV within two months of birth. This was because of limited medical equipment to carry out the tests.

To address this issue, UNICEF intervened by promoting the use of GeneXpert Point of Care machines already present in 12 laboratories nationwide. UNICEF also provided training and materials to 24 laboratory technicians, which enabled all regions of Niger to test HIV-exposed babies. UNICEF’s support to the government has led to 342,820 out of 417,393 women attending their first antenatal consultation to receive counseling and testing for HIV.

– Teniola Yusuf

Teniola is based in Norwich, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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HIV/AIDS in Rwanda

HIV/AIDS in Rwanda The AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980s and has since become one of the world’s most difficult and devastating health hurdles to overcome. Due to the quick rise of HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, there was poor public understanding of how the disease spread, causing misinformation and fear. In Rwanda, before the turn of the century, there was little awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and no prevention of mother-to-child transmission. From around 1996 to 1998, cases of HIV in the country peaked, only exacerbating the already permeating stigma and misinformation associated with the disease. Since 2005, however, rates of HIV/AIDS in Rwanda have relatively stabilized due to the persistent efforts of the Ministry of Health in Rwanda and international organizations.

Rwandan Ministry of Health Initiatives

The Ministry of Health combats the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS by updating its HIV guidelines every two years to curb the spread of misinformation, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Furthermore, it promotes age-specific counseling and medical training to help patients who have contracted the disease. Their media campaigns like “STOP SIDA” have also spread awareness for HIV prevention and treatment. The Ministry has increased its HIV testing efforts to catch the disease earlier. Consequently, new HIV infections have decreased by 56% over the last 15 years, according to WHO.

United States Support

The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is just one program that provides medical aid to combat HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. PEPFAR supports more than 50 countries around the world to prevent HIV infections and control the pandemic. Both PEPFAR and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partner with the Rwandan Ministry of Health in their efforts against the spread of HIV/AIDS. This has proven quite effective and the life expectancy of those with HIV who receive treatment has increased by more than 25 years as a result. Of approximately 250,000 infected persons in Rwanda, around 210,000 of them are actively being treated for HIV, a great increase from the 1990s when there was little awareness of the disease at all.

United Nations’ Efforts

The United Nations began the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 1996 to fight AIDS around the world. In Rwanda, UNAIDS has expanded HIV testing services to 99% of the country’s health facilities and prioritized prevention. The program also encourages outreach in communities with high rates of HIV infections. Moreover, UNAIDS implemented the 90-90-90 target as its goal for 2020, which consisted of diagnosing 90% of all people infected by HIV, 90% of those diagnosed beginning antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and 90% of those on ARVs having fully suppressed viral load.

The Present Day

A 2018/2019 study found that HIV among adults in Rwanda was as low as 3%. Research also revealed lower rates of HIV in younger generations than their older counterparts, indicating successful prevention measures in the country. With a negative trend in cases of HIV, it is clear the efforts against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda have proven successful and will continue to decline over time.

– Hannah Hipólito

Hannah is based in Tampa, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago

HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and TobagoIn the past three decades, HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago has been a defensive battle. In 1983, there were only eight registered cases of AIDS, however, a mere nine years later, Trinidad and Tobago ranked 17th out of 164 countries in reported cases per 100,000-person population.

National Planning

Alongside the Caribbean as a whole, Trinidad and Tobago began its work towards HIV/AIDS prevention. Multiple programs and national policy created noticeable positive changes in the spread of the virus as well as preventative testing and general education. The country’s HIV and AIDS coordinating committee implemented the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan in 2004. The plan incorporated youth empowerment programs, voluntary counseling, preventative testing and specific prevention of mother-to-child transmission. The government launched free antiretroviral treatment to manage infection for those who acquired the virus congenitally. This program led to dramatic decreases in the number of mother-to-child-related transmissions.

The island’s National Prevention and Control Program most recently created the National HIV/AIDS Policy 2020-2030. The policy places focus on key vulnerable populations at risk of infection. To achieve an end to HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago by 2030, the National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee (NACC) created objectives that include “universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention services/ programs/ interventions, an increased proportion of the population living with HIV that knows their status, increased coverage of testing, a decreased population that engages in risky sexual behaviors and increased use of technology in HIV prevention.”

UNICEF Support

In 2009, UNICEF brought support to the island’s fight against HIV and AIDS. An educational program “Kicking AIDS Out” began in Speyside by the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education. This organization uses games and sports to teach youth about the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. Community members in that area of the country saw firsthand how AIDS can have a swift ripple effect. The increased testing and educated choices in the country’s youth made a noticeable impact on the amount of new HIV infections present within the population.

UNAIDS Regional Data

According to 2022 UNAIDS data, new infections of HIV have reduced by 15% in the Caribbean between 2010 and 2022 with stronger reductions among men. Virus-related deaths have decreased by 53% over the same time, yet are stronger among women. Sixty-three percent of the population living with HIV were on treatment in 2022 and 83% of the population living with HIV knew their status that same year. Antiretroviral therapy coverage increased from 19% to 63% among men since 2010, and from 21% to 74% among women.

Programs in place to prevent HIV transmission rose from 45% to 65%. However, these responses continue to rely on external sources. More than 70% of all available resources are received from international financing. According to UNAIDS, “transitioning to sustainable financing for HIV is crucial to build on the current progress and address the structural factors that limit access to services and increase HIV vulnerability in the region.”

Conclusion

These programs are creating positive change within Caribbean countries and Trinidad and Tobago specifically. By continuing to receive support from organizations such as UNAIDS and UNICEF, Trinidad and Tobago could potentially stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

– Chloe Landry
Photo: Flickr

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A Progress Report on HIV/AIDS in Benin 

HIV/AIDS in Benin According to the CIA World Fact Book, the Republic of Benin is a small, low-income, multi-ethnic country in West Africa. Benin borders Nigeria to the east, Niger and Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Benin was a French colony until it gained independence in 1960. The Kingdom of Dahomey occupied present-day Benin before colonization. Benin has been on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS epidemic since the 1980s.

Significant Progress Has Been Made on HIV/AIDS in Benin

UNAIDS data shows the total number of Beninese people living with HIV/AIDS was 72,000 in 2022, down from a high of 77,000 in 2014. The World Bank put these numbers into percentages. In 2021, 0.8% of Benin’s population was living with HIV/AIDS, a 0.7% decline from the 1.5% peak in 2001. 

UNAIDS announced that half of adults with HIV/AIDS in Benin were on antiretroviral treatments in 2017. That percentage increased to 81% in 2022. New annual HIV infections in Benin plummeted from 8,600 in 1996 to 1,800 in 2022. Similarly, AIDS-related deaths fell sharply, from 6,100 in 2007 to 1,900 in 2022. UNAIDS will continue to implement community-focused approaches to improve access to care, reduce transmission and end discrimination against Beninese people infected with HIV. 

Fighting HIV/AIDS Reduces Poverty

A 2005 report from the International Labour Office and UNAIDS explains the link between HIV/AIDS and poverty. HIV/AIDS infections have an outsized impact on household, local and national economies. HIV infections can make people too ill to work. Families often have to drain their savings to pay for medical care and fill in for missing income. Children may need to take time off school to care for an infected parent or work. Missing school has a significant impact on long-term economic livelihood. Data indicate that high rates of HIV/AIDS infections slow economic growth and reduce the size of the labor force. The report argues that countries that are an exception to this trend may have implemented a more organized response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Interventions for Sex Workers

Research published in 2012 by S. Baral and others in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases found female sex workers (FSW) and their clients to be focal points of HIV/AIDS in Benin. In a 2013 study by L. Béhanzin and others published in the National Library of Medicine, researchers focused their FSW-targeted interventions on three fundamental areas:

  • Community: Improving HIV/STI knowledge, condom education and negotiating skills to promote condom use with clients
  • Clinical: Monthly check-ups and free STI testing for FSW
  • Structural: Working with the police and FSW managers to reduce harassment and violence directed at FSW

The HIV/AIDS rate among FSWs in Benin who received the interventions declined from 53.3% in 1993 to 30.4% in 2008. According to UNAIDS, the infection rate among sex workers was 7.2% in 2022, and condom use was at 90.4%. Researchers also speculate that these interventions may have reduced the spread of HIV/AIDS in Benin outside the FSW and client populations.

Planning for the Future

HIV/AIDS in Benin is a significant and continuing public health and economic issue for the country. More work is necessary to reduce the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, targeted and effective interventions have reduced the spread of HIV/AIDS in Benin over the last several decades, especially among vulnerable populations. Fewer people living with HIV/AIDS means more labor force participation, household savings, economic development and kids in school. Overall, HIV/AIDS programs in Benin have a positive economic impact and reduce poverty in the country.

– Joey T. McFadden
Photo: Unsplash

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Combating HIV/AIDS in Togo

HIV/AIDS in TogoTogo is a densely populated West African nation situated on the Gulf of Guinea, home to approximately 8.5 million people. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), an estimated 110,000 adults and children throughout the country are living with HIV/AIDS. This is a number that reflects a steady decline in infection rate. However, it also demonstrates the persistence of these sexually transmitted diseases within sub-Saharan Africa. Today, international aid and government initiatives are crucial. This work ensures that the citizens receive the treatment and education necessary to combat HIV/AIDS in Togo.

Attitudes Surrounding HIV/AIDS in Togo

There are a multitude of sociocultural barriers that stigmatize and discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS in Togo. Between 2015 and 2020 the prevalence of discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS was reported as the highest in West Africa out of all of the sub-Saharan African regions. Although the law in Togo currently prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and mandates the National Council for the Fight against AIDS (CNLS) to use active measures to prevent discrimination, affected individuals are still often subject to prejudice and mistreatment by their peers.

Reported cases of family abandonment can be attributed to the widespread perception that HIV/AIDS is a religious punishment for homosexuality. This perspective leads to the worry of severely tarnishing a family’s image in society. Humiliation and fear that come with discrimination play large roles in deterring affected individuals from tests and treatment.  

Seeking Solutions: American Assistance and Aid

The United States established diplomatic relations with Togo in 1960 and has been active in maintaining good relations since then. Although the U.S. has been involved in efforts to combat HIV/AIDS since the mid-1980s, it has spent close to $50 million in to fight and treat HIV/AIDs in Togo. This has led to a significant increase in testing and greater accessibility to antiretroviral treatments.

Additionally, as a collaborative effort with domestic groups, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hopes to end AIDS by the target year of 2030. They intend to fund and provide resources to the Ending AIDS project. This project aims to enhance HIV prevention, care and treatment services by engaging existing networks with local partners. Adding associates such as ministries of health and faith-based organizations can build upon trust and ensure lasting change.

The work of the U.S. as a whole continues to be vital in relieving the pressure on Togo. Work is ongoing to help solve the persistent worldwide public health issue in HIV/AIDS.

International Intervention: The Global Fund

In the fight for health, there is an international private-public partnership designed to accelerate the defeat of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria throughout the world. The Global Fund historically allocates funding to eligible countries every three years. Notably, it has allocated a total of $44.52 million toward ending HIV/AIDs in Togo for the years 2023-2025.

The Global Fund has been providing funding to Togo since 2014 and has been responsible for yielding positive results. For example, 1,828 infants have been tested for HIV. Additionally, 680,173 young people aged 10-24 had access to comprehensive sexuality education and/or life skills-based education in or out of schools in 2022. 

Continued Progress

Although HIV/AIDS in Togo remains one of the leading health threats throughout the nation, the last 10 years has seen a steady decrease in cases. There is evidence of a decline with a drop of 2.5% to 1.9% with respect to the Togolese population aged between 15-49 with HIV from 2015 to 2021.  

Global funding and government initiatives have been largely successful in increasing accessibility to HIV tests. According to The Global Fund, as of 2022, 33,000 HIV tests were taken by priority and key Togolese populations. Additionally, 720,000 people were reached with HIV prevention services. Additionally, 85% of the people living with HIV/AIDs in Togo knew their status – a 25% increase from 60% in 2015. Furthermore, of the estimated 69% of people in Togo who knew their HIV status in 2019, 96% of them were on antiretroviral therapy.  

Such progress can be accredited to factors like global and local efforts taking place to overcome discrimination and decrease the rate of HIV/AIDS in Togo. If efforts continue, they will contribute vastly to defeating the persistence of the disease. 

– Arabella Wood-Collins 
Photo: Pixabay