HIV & AIDS: Empowering Communities, Saving Lives
In the face of one of the most critical global health challenges of our time, the Phawulethu Foundation stands firm, focusing on the needs and rights of key populations to prevent new HIV infections and ensure no one is left behind in the fight against AIDS.
The statistics are sobering. In 2017 alone, 1.8 million people contracted HIV, and AIDS-related causes claimed the lives of 940,000 individuals. However, we firmly believe that we can bring an end to this epidemic. Over the span of a decade, from 2010 to 2019, new HIV infections globally declined by an encouraging 23%. More people than ever are receiving treatment. By maintaining our unwavering focus on the needs and rights of key populations, we can prevent new infections and ensure proper care for those living with AIDS. This is the driving force behind the work of the Pathfinder organization.
Across the globe, a staggering 38 million individuals are currently living with HIV, with a staggering 68% concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite commendable efforts to combat the HIV epidemic, disparities persist among countries, regions, populations, and communities. Particularly alarming is the fact that women and girls make up 63% of HIV cases, with adolescent girls and young women being three times more likely to be infected than their male counterparts of the same age.
Yet, progress is hindered by a multitude of challenges. Insufficient political will, fragile health systems, inadequate support for community-based organizations, punitive laws, user fees, the impact of COVID-19, conflicts, insecurity, and humanitarian crises all conspire to threaten and reverse the strides made thus far. Moreover, the resources available for HIV prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries have experienced a significant decline, leaving a substantial deficit of US $8 billion.
At Phawulethu Foundation, we take action to make a difference:
- We provide essential care for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, safeguarding against the transmission of HIV to their children.
- We deliver comprehensive care to individuals living with HIV and their families, ensuring accessibility and convenience.
- We support key populations, including men who have sex with men, prisoners, female sex workers, and transgender women, advocating for their rights and providing them with stigma-free, non-discriminatory, and high-quality services.
- We actively promote widespread and efficient testing, reaching communities, facilities, and hotspots to ensure individuals are aware of their HIV status, enabling early initiation of treatment, a vital aspect of UNAIDS’ ambitious 95-95-95 goals.
- We decentralize HIV services, extending their reach to communities and low-tier health settings, thus ensuring more people, especially adolescents, men, and those who have been lost to follow-up, can access the services they require.
- We integrate HIV services with other sexual and reproductive health interventions, recognizing the opportunity to address multiple needs during a single visit.
- We challenge restrictive policies and inspire governments to prioritize the rights of people living with HIV, with a particular focus on key populations, adolescents, and women.
By empowering communities, we forge a path toward a brighter future—a future free from the grip of HIV and AIDS. Together, we can overcome this global health crisis and ensure that no one is left behind.