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A series of articles by guest writers for World AIDS Day
Part of AVERT's World AIDS Day 2012 campaign, ‘Reflections on the Epidemic’ are a series of articles by guest writers. Our guest writers range from global leaders, writers, experts, activists, physicians and people personally affected by HIV and AIDS; and they represent various countries, experiences and backgrounds from all over the world. We are grateful to all our guest writers for their effort and the diverse and insightful viewpoints that they contributed to the world’s response to HIV and AIDS. We will be re-featuring these articles over the next few weeks on a weekly basis. Browse through this week’s featured articles, and see the full list below. |
In the past 30 years, we have made tremendous progress in the global fight against HIV and AIDS. We may not have a vaccine or a cure, but we know what works. We have the tools and the science to finally break the cycle of new infections. All we need now is the political will.
Parliamentarians have a critical and all too often overlooked role in the AIDS response. As legislators, they have the power to introduce, review and amend legislation which can either support or hinder the response. As advocates, they can lobby for increased resources and policy change from Ministers, and as community leaders they can lead by example, in particular through challenging stigma and discrimination.
This year in the UK we have secured a remarkable victory with the introduction of free HIV treatment for all of those who need it – regardless of their immigration status. I pay tribute to our Vice Chair Lord Norman Fowler, for securing this change as the Health and Social Care Bill passed through the House of Lords. But we know there is much more work to be done- both here in the UK, where we have no national strategy for tackling HIV, and across the world where we have laws criminalising those who are most at risk of contracting HIV, laws criminalising those who are HIV positive, and an intellectual property system which is skewed against the health needs of people living with HIV in developing countries.
When we talk about HIV and AIDS we raise, often difficult, issues of sex, drugs and sexuality. It is easy for us to shy away from this. But we know what works is to take a pragmatic, public health approach.
The more we hear from our constituents, the more legitimacy we have to act. So, this World AIDS Day, I urge all readers to engage with their Parliamentarians around the world to tell them how important this fight is, that our work is not yet done, and that we need their support.
Pamela Nash MP is Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV and AIDS. In 2012 she travelled to Kenya with VSO to support their APPG on HIV and AIDS. In 2011 she was filmed having an HIV test for a learning resource “Positive” which is designed to teach young people about HIV and AIDS.
For more information on HIV in the UK, see AVERT's page.
Images: 'Stop AIDS Campaign delivers giant pill bottle to Westminster', copyright: DfID. 'Pamela Nash MP', courtesy of author.
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Meeting the challenge of stigma in Iran Words are not enough: Where is the genuine support for an AIDS-free generation? Narrow escape Going beyond the silver bullet approach A new generation of awareness Mothers at the forefront of change A few simple actions against AIDS The reality of beginning the end of AIDS In the balance — HIV and the Law Striving for an AIDS free generation of adolescents A broken unity: An American reflection on the epidemic Universal access for people who use drugs: Not just a pipe dream In pursuit of a cure The future of antiretroviral treatment Ending paediatric AIDS A future of possibilities Riding the waves of HIV |
The Paediatric HIV response in the context of AIDS optimism HIV/AIDS Care begins at home HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Myth to reality Why beauty is a great weapon in the fight against HIV/AIDS HIV Walk, unravels the epidemic The importance of Parliamentary voices in the AIDS response Women breaking the stereotype Resources for a rights based approach to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic AIDS - It’s not over Backing the community response Gogo-getters become elders Getting to zero The search for common humanity at the heart of the AIDS response AIDS is still hot in India Why involve women with HIV? |
All opinions expressed in 'Reflections on the Epidemic' do not necessarily represent those of AVERT. |
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