Civil Societies push for universal access as world celebrates Aids Day

 By PETER ORENGO

HIV infected older people will on Wednesday join millions of people around the world in marking World AIDS Day with a call for greater respect of their human rights to access HIV treatment and support.

Civil society organizations addressing HIV, TB and Malaria launched a forum to facilitate dialogue on advocacy issues affecting health in Kenya.

This year’s theme is "Human Rights and Universal Access in the context of TB-HIV integration."

The members said although Kenya had surpassed TB treatment by 85 per cent, there was still need to increase HIV screening among people with TB to 100 per cent.

The reason behind this suggestion is that over 70 per cent of people dying from TB are HIV positive.

"We must shift our TB prevention strategy by integrating it with HIV management. This is so because all indicators show collaboration between TB and HIV," said Dr. Joyce Wamicue, from National AIDS/STD Control Programme (NASCOP).

At the same time, a UN report has indicated that in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, there has been a decline or a stabilisation of the HIV epidemic.

Global report on Aids

In the Global Report on HIV and AIDS 2010 released by UNAIDS, the number of new HIV infections was reported to be one-fifth lower than it was a decade ago.

Dr. Douglas Lackey, HelpAge International’s Africa Regional Development Centre’s Advocacy and Communications manager, said still more action needs to be taken by recognising the impact of HIV and AIDS and targeting people aged 50 years and above.

"Despite the target of universal access, the response to HIV and AIDS around the world rarely includes older people. Few prevention programmes are targeting older persons in Africa, yet in Kenya the HIV prevalence rate for the 50-64 age groups is 5 per cent compare to the national rate of 7.1 percent (KAIS 2007). The under-50 age bracket is focussed on at the detriment of older persons," said Lackey.

Older people in Africa are both affected by and living with HIV and AIDS. Approximately 1.6 million older people are caring for the estimated 12 million children who have lost one or both parents to HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.