Communities are the key frontline of progress in the HIV response. They remain a reliable and productive medium to connect people with people-centric public health services, initiate ideas and solutions, monitor implementation of policies and services, and hold service providers accountable.
However, communities are constrained by scarce funding, policy and regulatory hurdles, capacity limitations, clampdown on civil society and suppressions of the human rights of marginalised communities in their efforts towards HIV prevention and treatment services.
On this day, as we draw strength from our past contributions, we further unite with others to advocate support for communities in their leadership roles while also extending our support to people living with and affected by HIV, and remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.
Let us remember that we can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 only if communities are fully included and are sufficiently funded to lead the way.
Happy World AIDS Day!
