Parinita Bhattacharjee

The session focused on understanding the inequity in HIV response and stressed to need to focus on specific populations who are left out. Innovations to scale up HIV prevention and treatment for drug users, community involvement specially women drug users and need for decriminalisation of HIV was stressed.

Stephan Baral focused on the epidemiology of HIV and using case studies shared that there exists inequity in distribution of HIV across geography and population. This evidence made a compelling case to address the unmet prevention and treatment needs of adolescent girls, PWID, MSM, FSWs and indigenous people. Anna Deryabina and Olena Stryzhak maintained the focus on drug and substance users. Their presentations shared the need to scale up programmes for PWID using innovative interventions like incentivised chain referral and HIV self-testing to increase HIV testing and yield, PrEP for prevention, nurse led home based support and integration of OST and ART to increase adherence. Olena specially advocated for equal coverage of women who use drugs with integrated services, community involvement and decriminalisation of drug use. Allan Maleche and Robert Suttle stressed the need to decriminalise HIV by repealing criminal laws and increased funding for structural remedies based on science.

The session focused on inequity and used evidence to make the case. The message that risk of HIV is not evenly distributed and most infections are emerging from unmet prevention and treatment needs was clear. The need to address structural inequities and systematic barriers to increase coverage of HIV services in specific populations was stressed. Integrated approaches, gender oriented services and service delivery models and active community engagement and participation is essential. Decriminalisation of HIV and use of science to interpret and apply laws was also a key message. The personal stories of two speakers added life to the presentations.