Each year on world AIDS Day, we take time to show support for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS all over the world. We think about the impact on families, communities, and society at large. The focus helps us to plan on how to overcome the challenges. The groups that are mostly affected by pandemics are children. When a pandemic takes parents, adults, and relatives away, it takes away caregivers, and the support children need. It takes away their childhood and innocence as the affected children would be left to care for themselves at an early age.
The efforts we have all put into working together to tackle the impacts of AIDS have yielded results. However, the recent event of the global Covid-19 pandemic has added to the existing crises created by AIDS. Orphanhood, social disparities, poverty, and psychosocial strains are some of the challenges associated with pandemics. The data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the past two years of COVID-19, the progress against HIV/AIDS pandemic has faltered, as resources have shrunk, and millions of lives, particularly children, are at risk as a result.
This year, the theme of the world AIDS day is EQUALIZE. This is about us challenging the inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic at all levels. We all need to stand up to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS, and all pandemics. The Equalize call to action aims at prompting everyone to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help address the challenges. These include:
- Increasing availability, quality, and suitability of services, for prevention, treatment, and care for people affected or impacted by HIV/AIDS, particularly children.
- Addressing practices that perpetuate stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV/AIDS, with a focus on children affected by AIDS.
- Increasing support and access to care for orphaned and vulnerable children.
- Expanding programs that provide support to children affected by AIDS.
This year, the world pledged to end AIDS by 2030. This is doable with everyone’s help. To do so, we must overcome disparities that impede advancement. Without Equality, we will also struggle to halt the Covid-19 pandemic and would continue in a circle of endless pandemics. Currently, progress in AIDS is being hampered by the Covid-19 challenges. The lessons learnt and still being learned in the fight against the AIDS pandemic will help us in the fight against all other pandemics.
We need everyone to be involved and support the initiatives aimed at addressing both the AIDS pandemic and Covid-19, through community support, healthcare system strengthening, and civil society engagement. All for the sake of our children.
