Joint Assertion by the Leaders of the International Fund, UNAIDS and PEPFAR on Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023
29 Might 2023
Geneva | Washington, D.C. — The International Fund to Battle AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the International Fund), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Aid (PEPFAR) are deeply involved concerning the dangerous influence of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 on the well being of its residents and its influence on the AIDS response that has been so profitable thus far.
Uganda’s Management In direction of Ending the AIDS Pandemic as a Public Well being Risk
Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni have been leaders within the battle to finish AIDS. Progress has been made because of the implementation of large-scale prevention, prognosis, therapy and care packages, all offered on the precept of entry to well being look after all who want it, with out stigma or discrimination. This strategy has saved lives. The robust well being methods constructed to help the AIDS response serve your complete inhabitants of Uganda. This was evident as group well being employees and well being methods developed for the AIDS response performed a key position in tackling COVID-19 and different illness threats. Sustaining that is important: Failures within the HIV public well being response could have system-wide impacts that might negatively have an effect on everybody.
Success Is Potential
We all know that we can overcome this public well being menace once we be sure that 95% of individuals dwelling with HIV know their standing, 95% of them are on therapy, and 95% of these on therapy have achieved viral suppression. Uganda can attain that. By 2021, 89% of individuals dwelling with HIV in Uganda knew their standing, greater than 92% of people that knew their HIV standing have been receiving antiretroviral remedy, and 95% of these on therapy have been virally suppressed. Uganda is effectively on monitor to realize the UNAIDS HIV therapy targets if progress might be maintained.
Discrimination Threatens Progress within the AIDS Response
Uganda’s progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will impede well being training and the outreach that may assist finish AIDS as a public well being menace. The stigma and discrimination related to the passage of the Act has already led to lowered entry to prevention in addition to therapy providers. Belief, confidentiality, and stigma-free engagement are important for anybody searching for well being care. LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda more and more worry for his or her security and safety, and growing numbers of persons are being discouraged from searching for important well being providers for worry of assault, punishment and additional marginalization.
Uganda has repeatedly demonstrated management and dedication to ending AIDS – and has achieved nice success – by leaving nobody behind. Collectively as one, we name for the Act to be reconsidered in order that Uganda might proceed on its path to make sure equitable entry to well being providers and finish AIDS as a public well being menace by 2030.
Peter Sands, Government Director, The International Fund
Winnie Byanyima, Government Director, UNAIDS, and Beneath-Secretary Normal of the United Nations
Ambassador John Nkengasong, U.S. International AIDS Coordinator and Particular Consultant for International Well being Diplomacy, U.S. Division of State
