The president of Cape Verde said Thursday that the country must strive for zero new HIV infections, deaths and discriminationwhen the prevalence remains at 0.6% and the goal is to eliminate mother-to-child transmission in 2024.
“We have to fight for zero new infectionszero deaths from AIDS and also zero discrimination”, appealed José Maria Neves, in a message alluding to World AIDS Day, commemorated this Thursday, where he highlighted the progress made by the country in the fight against the disease, “thanks to everyone’s involvement”????????
However, the president of Cape Verde considered that one of the biggest problems that infected and affected people still face is the the stigma of marginalization and discriminationboth in the family, in the community, at work and in society.
“Leaving no one behind is I need more inclusion and empathy.and dismantling myths, to, at the same time, guarantee that Human Rights are respected, protected and fulfilled”, defended the maximum magistrate of the Cape Verdean Nation.
In his message, José Maria Neves also called adoption of healthy lifestyleswith responsible choices in sexual relations, with prevention as the best medicine to prevent the spread of infections.
“On the other hand, as we are a society whose population is mostly young and, therefore, sexually active, it is necessary to invest in changing the behavior of young people,” continued Neves, noting that the “high number” of cases of adolescent pregnancy reveals an exposure to the risk of infection due to unprotected sexual practices.
In this sense, he considered that school curricula must be adapted to the current reality, educating young people and adolescents for an active and responsible sexual life.
“As President of the Republic, I urge everyone to continue their efforts to accelerate the achievements and reach the great goals proposed by UN-AIDS to win this fight and eradicate HIV by 2030”, outlined the Head of State.
According to data released this Thursday by the Executive Secretary of the Coordination Committee to Fight AIDS (CCS-AIDS), Celina Ferreira, Cape Verde continues to have a 0.6% HIV prevalence, which corresponds to some 5,500 people living with the disease.
Of this total, some three thousand people are undergoing treatment, of which more than 60% are women.
In the central act of commemoration of the day, the Minister of Health, Filomena Gonçalves, also highlighted the achievements made by the country in the last 36 years (the first case was detected in 1986), and expressed the desire to achieve “Download as much as possible” the prevalence level.
The official said that the country’s goal is to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV in 2024 and eradicate transmission between people in 2030.
“If there is the involvement of everyone, without exception, and also the continuous reinforcement that has been made in eradicating poverty, inequalities, in guaranteeing health coverage in a transversal way so that we are at the same level and continue to face this great challenge that is of all ”, he traced.
By 2024, the country hopes to obtain the certificate of elimination of vertical transmission (from mother to child) of HIV-AIDS, which is 0.1%, according to the V National Strategic Plan to Fight AIDS (PNLS) 2022- 2026 presented in September, in the city of Praia.
Source: Observadora
