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Every December 1st, all over the world, World AIDS Day is celebrated. Togo is no exception to the rule. This is the place to take stock of actions taken in the past but also and above all to find better approaches to solutions to best combat this pandemic in the future. It is with this in mind that a press conference was held on Friday, December 29, at the CNLS (National Council for the Fight against AIDS).
For the commemoration of this 31st edition, the theme chosen is: “communities make the difference”. The theme calls on stakeholders to bring the response closer to communities whose innovative strategies to survive in the face of the negative impacts of HIV and AIDS make it possible to better support and assist affected families and children.
For program performance, UNAIDS has set targets (the three 90s) that all countries including Togo will have to reach in 2020-2023.
What does the “these three 90s” really consist of?
Case of Togo
The first 90: 90% of Togolese HIV positive must know their serological status since, according to the figures communicated by Vincent PITCHE, National coordinator, in Togo we have 110 thousand PLWHIV (People Living with HIV). The 110 miles infected do not necessarily know their status; “It is up to us to do everything to screen the 110 miles. At the end of 2018 we were 66% so we still have a 24% step to reach P1 90 “he hammered.
Alliance Togo Informatique
The second 90: all people declared HIV positive must be put on ARV. In Togo it is 89/90. Indeed, at the end of the 2018 years, out of the 38 million people living with HIV in the world, around half or 23 million are currently on ARV treatment.
In Togo in recent years, with access to ARVs, the epidemic has been relatively stable despite the population growth rate. There is also a dramatic decrease in the mortality rate for people living with HIV. “In 2000, the population was around 4 million with 130,000 people living with HIV. At the moment, we are practically 8 million Togolese with 110,000 people infected. You see the difference… and of the 110 miles there are 65 miles that are on anti retroviral treatment. So the objective is almost achieved “explained the National Coordinator, Vincent PITCHE
The third 90: all people on ARV must have an undetectable viral load. This measures the effectiveness of ARVs.
Admittedly, the death rate of PLWHA has dropped considerably despite the population growth with access to ARVs. This feat was also possible thanks to the active involvement of communities in this struggle. Indeed, the “COMMUNITIES” are local actors in the response to HIV, they carry out various community initiatives in order to help mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS, these include NGOs, religious groups of peer educators from networks of people living with HIV, home service providers, civil society organizations, etc.
Especially in Togo. Civil society has been actively involved for years in the fight against AIDS, from prevention, through treatment, support and even in advocacy.
On behalf of this new celebration with the theme “communities make a difference”,
“Civil society is committed to conducting community screenings. The patient is no longer required to travel to obtain ARVs. The community pledges to bring the patient his treatment wherever he is. The psychosocial aspect is not really what it should be. The community members are ready to collaborate with the State centers to bring their know-how which is prevention, psychosocial and community care so that it is understood on all sites ”mentioned Eugène NOVON the new president of the platform. civil society organizations
The new direct
ur UNAIDS country, Eric VERSCHUEREN in his address, praised the efforts that have been made both globally and in Togo, and encouraged to do much more “because the number of deaths has certainly decreased , but as far as the reduction of new infections is concerned, we can see that it is dragging on more, and therefore a lot of efforts still have to be made, ”he recalled.
The great challenge, the director of the United Nations AIDS Committee wanted to emphasize, is to mobilize financial resources to continue putting people infected on ARVs. Innovate. Reaching out to the population because the most difficult thing is to reach people who are uncomfortable in society for various reasons, or who do not have the voice which allows them to express their need and their request to be taken care of. To be successful in terms of prevention, it will be necessary to approach keys in particular: sex workers, injecting drug users, homosexuals, prisoners and then introduce innovative screening strategies. It is by adopting these new strategies that Togo will truly be able to reach the “three 90s”, and consequently reach the objective in 2020.
Diane OLOBI
www.independantexpress.net
