HIV/Aids and COVID-19 in Brazil: in four decades, two antithetical approaches to face serious pandemics

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2021 Jun 21;116:e210071. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760210071. eCollection 2021.ABSTRACTIn the space of four decades, Brazil has faced two serious pandemics: human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The country's response to HIV/AIDS was coordinated by several stakeholders and recognised the importance of scientific evidence in guiding decision-making, and a network offering monitoring and antiretroviral treatment was provided through coordinated efforts by the country's universal health system. Conversely, the lack of a centrally coordinated strategy and misalignment between government ministries regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response, together with the denial of scientific evidence, promotion of ineffective treatments and insufficient vaccination efforts, have all led to the uncontrolled spread of infection, the near-total collapse of the health system and excess deaths.PMID:34190877 | PMC:PMC8238441 | DOI:10.1590/0074-02760210071
Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research