According to 2021 figures, almost 6 million people living with HIV do not know their HIV status.
On the occasion of the celebration of the Day once morest the HIV virus, held on 1is December of each year, the Tunisian Association for the Fight once morest STDs and AIDS (ATL MST AIDS) launched the week of free screening once morest this disease. At the same time, training for journalists focusing on sexual and reproductive rights was organised.
An analysis of the situation of this disease, HIV and STDs, methods of prevention, treatment, scientific progress, etc., were discussed and clarified during this session which also focused on access to care between laws and rights. During this training, which was spread over two successive days during which medical and legal experts were present to shed light on issues related to the national legal framework and the State’s commitment to sexual and reproductive rights in Tunisia as well as the consequences of not having access to these rights, the workshop was also an opportunity to talk regarding the international HIV testing week, which took place from 21 to 28 November.
What do the numbers say?
Indeed, according to the UNAIDS report, it is estimated that every day, 4,000 people, including 1,100 young people aged between 15 and 24, are infected with HIV. This third edition of International Screening Week, organized by Coalition Plus, brought together more than 60 associations from 43 countries to fight this disease, with the aim of improving access to early HIV/AIDS screening. , STIs and viral hepatitis for key and vulnerable populations around the world.
This action therefore aims to improve the screening system on a national scale and promote recognition by political decision-makers of the essential role of community systems in national and international public policies for health and the fight once morest AIDS. In Africa, particularly in Tunisia, the member associations of Coalition Plus carry out actions aimed at improving the access of the most vulnerable people to HIV and viral hepatitis and to prevention, screening and care services.
Worldwide, and according to UNAIDS, according to statistics for the year 2021, it was estimated that 38.4 million people were living with HIV, that 5.9 million people living with HIV do not know their HIV status and that 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV. 70% of all new HIV infections were among key populations and their sexual partners and 650,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses, or one person every minute.
Still according to statistics for 2021 (UNAIDS), it is estimated that in Tunisia, 5,400 adults and children (aged 15 and over) are living with the HIV virus, broken down as follows: 2,400 women, 2,800 men and 200 children. The prevalence rate is estimated at 0.1%.
The 2021 Ibbs survey revealed that the prevalence rate of the HIV virus among female sex workers is estimated at 0.5%, 8.2% among men who have sex with men and 8.8% among injection drug users.
Community screening, a winning strategy…
In this sense and to fight once morest this disease and delimit it, especially among key populations, the national strategic plan recommends for this purpose community screening as an additional approach to reach key and vulnerable populations. This integration of screening into a global approach to prevention and health makes it possible in this sense to optimize the impact of community screening and to meet the different needs of key populations and to offer complementary services in sexual health, family planning and combined prevention. As such, the ATL MST Sida association will organise, following the week of international screening, a working meeting with the Ministry of Health on the subject of community screening and the purchase of tests and lubricating gel.
It should be noted that the ATL MST Sida association provides community screening in low-threshold areas and community centers in different regions (Tunis, Nabeul, Sousse, Gafsa and Tozeur). The association also organizes national screening campaigns to reach these populations.
H. SAYADI
