FHI 360’s Post

Protecting human rights is central to the HIV response, but in several places, the opposite is happening with the introduction of legislation that risks further increases in infections. However, some governments are showing signs of hope. #HIV #humanrights #globalhealth #development

Unfortunately, transgender and nonbinary folks face many barriers when it comes to HIV testing, such as stigma, racism, poverty, transphobia, and so much more. The good news - self-testing is widely available and solves many of these issues. Read more about alternative testing options: https://buff.ly/4aItv1G #HIV #HIVTesting #Gender

🔴 Today, April 10, marks National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a sobering reminder of the battle #youngpeople face against this relentless virus. 💔 Here's a glimpse into the stark reality: In 2021, only a fraction of global #HIV #philanthropy—$80 million, a mere 12%—was directed towards #youth aged 15-24. 😞 🌍 Shockingly, 36% of this funding focused on global initiatives, primarily centered on #research for #biomedical interventions tailored for our youth. Yet, the dire need remains palpable, especially in regions like Eastern & Southern #Africa, where $27 million, a third of the total allocation, was dispersed. 💔 🏳️🌈 Meanwhile, in the #UnitedStates, where #marginalized communities bear a disproportionate burden, 19% of the funds were designated, primarily targeting #LGBTQ and #BIPOC youth. 💪 💧But let's face it: this amount is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the rising tide of HIV #infections engulfing our youth worldwide. According to UNAIDS, a staggering two out of every seven new HIV infections in 2019 occurred among young people aged 15–24. 🌊 🚨 It's time to wake up! Our youth deserve better. Let's unite, advocate, and strive for a future where HIV/AIDS is but a distant memory for generations to come. 💪 #NationalYouthHIVAIDSAwarenessDay #NYHAAD #EndHIV #StopHIVTogether

What does the 57th Commission on Population and Development conference taking place in New York mean for ending #AIDS? The conference should highlight the importance of: 💫 Promoting an inclusive #SRHR and comprehensive sexuality education to ensure access for all. 💫 Economic empowerment opportunities to help decrease women, girls, and gender-diverse people's vulnerability to #HIV. 💫 Act on the commitments and goals, prioritising #SRHR and #HIV. #CPD57 #SRHR #ICPD30 https://lnkd.in/dYCjkrVK

Why is sensitivity training for healthcare workers so important? 🩺🏥 ➡️ HIV prevalence among urban transgender women in South Africa is estimated at 46%. ➡️ Higher rates of HIV among certain population groups are often due to discrimination encountered at healthcare facilities. ➡️ In this case, discrimination hinders transgender individuals from accessing gender-affirming healthcare, which has proven effective in improving health outcomes and viral load suppression. Read more about discrimination and efforts to promote gender-affirming healthcare guidelines and training for healthcare staff in South Africa here: https://lnkd.in/eWUtRSyx #HIV #HIVAwarenes #HIVDiscrimination

Today, March 10, is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the disparities faced by women and girls in accessing HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, and support services.   Across the globe, women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly those from marginalized communities. Structural inequalities, including gender-based violence, economic insecurity, and limited access to healthcare, exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS.   To achieve true health equity, we must address these underlying systemic factors and work towards creating inclusive and accessible healthcare systems that prioritize the needs of women and girls. This includes ensuring comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, promoting gender equality, and providing culturally competent care that addresses the unique experiences of women and girls living with HIV/AIDS. Thankfully, change is happening. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, the first woman director of the Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), wrote a great article about the recent strides being made: https://lnkd.in/gzNWrsV8 On National Women & Girls with HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, let's renew our commitment to advancing health equity for all by advocating for policies and programs that empower women and girls, dismantle barriers to care, and foster a future where every individual, regardless of gender, can live a life free from the impact of HIV/AIDS. 💪🏽💖 #NWGHAAD #HealthEquity #WomenEmpowerment #EndHIVStigma #HIV #AIDS Image description: Two Black women embrace while looking at the camera and smiling. Text on the photo says "March 10 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Let's Stop HIV Together"

From AIDSVu — National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (#NWGHAAD) is an opportunity to highlight how HIV impacts girls, women and transgender women across the U.S. Black women and transgender women of color make up a disproportionate share of new #HIV diagnoses in the US. Specifically, Black women accounted for 54% of new HIV infections in U.S. women in 2021 — despite making up 14% of the female population — and Black and Hispanic/Latina transgender women represented 79% of transgender women newly diagnosed with HIV in 2020. Women and transgender individuals living with HIV also experience elevated levels of stigma compared to men. Learn more about how HIV impacts women, as well as paths for addressing disparities in HIV prevention and treatment services, here: https://lnkd.in/gais4MCA

🌈✨ Calling attention to a crucial article shedding light on the disparities faced by trans women in the context of HIV risk and discrimination! 🚨🏳️⚧️ "Unveiling Disparities: CDC Highlights Elevated HIV Risk in Trans Women Linked to Discrimination" is a must-read to understand the challenges our trans community faces. 📰💔 🔍 The CDC's insights expose the alarming correlation between discrimination and heightened HIV risk in trans women. 🌐💉 It's time to amplify this conversation and work towards a world where every individual, regardless of gender identity, can access healthcare without fear of prejudice. 🌍❤️ 💪 Let's join forces to break down the barriers that contribute to these disparities. Share the article, spark conversations, and stand up against discrimination in all its forms! 🗣️🌟 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d4-aSpZZ Together, we can create a more inclusive, supportive, and informed world! 🤝🌈 #TransRights #HIVAwareness #EndDiscrimination

Hi everyone. We're incredibly proud to be featured in a new USAID report – "Rainbow Connections" – highlighting the challenges faced by LGBTQI communities in the fight against HIV. Sadly, LGBTQI individuals in India, like many places around the world, face stigma and discrimination, making it harder to access vital healthcare services. This can have a devastating impact on their health, particularly their vulnerability to HIV. At MIST, we work tirelessly to bridge this gap. We collaborate with organizations like USAID and PEPFAR to raise awareness about HIV in LGBTQI communities and connect them with essential resources. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive space where LGBTQI individuals feel comfortable accessing HIV testing, treatment, and counseling. This involves building trust within the community and understanding their specific needs. This USAID report shines a light on the crucial work being done – not just by MIST, but by countless LGBTQI organizations around the globe. Together, we're making a difference by advocating for inclusive healthcare and empowering LGBTQI individuals to live healthy lives. Read the full USAID report here: https://lnkd.in/djXGjEAX

Today is our birthday. The day when we registered as an organization🥳 For 11 years we have been uniting more than 90 organizations and activists from the EECA region in the fight for a better life for LGBT people. But without you, our ECOM members, and partners, our work would not be as effective. So we asked you what ECOM means to you. You will find the answers on our postcard. Thank you for your trust and common work. We will continue to promote our values and build a better future together. Let us take a look back at our achievements over the last 11 years of work: 🎉Organized 4 Regional consultations on HIV among MSM and trans people in EECA and the First (Sub) Regional consultation on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among MSM and trans people in Central Asia. 🎉Conducted 5 large-scale media campaigns: “Chase the virus, not people!”; “Zero Discrimination”, aimed at eliminating discriminatory legislation in the field of HIV, as well as stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, drug users, sex workers, and LGBT people; #RightTo aimed at informing the community about human rights for LGBT people in their countries; #WeAreAlike, which aims to create a more positive attitude towards transgenderness in society; an information campaign that promotes HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among MSM in the EECA region. 🎉From 2017 to 2023, we collected 1,154 human rights violations cases, laying the foundation for our work with the UN and governments. 🎉Published 7 regional and 25 national reports on human rights violations. 🎉From 2018 to 2023, we submitted 53 alternative and shadow reports to the UN Treaty Bodies, for the UN Universal Periodic Review and to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The reports were submitted both by ECOM itself and in partnership with LGBT organizations and initiatives from the EECA region. 🎉We launched an online educational platform with courses on organizing various health services, preventing burnout among NGO employees, and other topics. 🎉Since 2017, ECOM has awarded more than 100 sub-grants to partner non-governmental organizations and community organizations in the region for their work on HIV epidemic response and human rights protection. 🎉ECOM has become one of the leading technical assistance providers in the region and beyond and has assisted with more than 60 requests in 14 countries since 2017. There's only more to come, along with you.