World AIDS Day 2016: “Dignity above all”

1 December 2016, Cairo – “Dignity above all” is the regional slogan of this year’s World AIDS Day, celebrated every year on 1 December. This year’s campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean Region calls on all stakeholders to work together to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in health care settings. The campaign is soliciting high-level political commitment and advocating active measures to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in health care settings in which it is their right to receive adequate care and quality treatment. In his message on the occasion of World AIDS Day, Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, says “It is unacceptable that, over 35 years into the epidemic, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV is still widespread among health care workers of all disciplines. Stigma and discrimination in health care settings seriously constrain our ability to end the HIV epidemic.” He added, “Contrary to medical ethics, people living with HIV often endure rejection and denial of health care for general conditions that are related or unrelated to their HIV infection. Such negative experiences deter those in need from seeking care and eventually their health deteriorates.” Globally, already 15 million people are accessing life-saving HIV treatment. New HIV infections have been reduced by 35% since 2000 and AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 42% since the pea...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news