Kampala, March 28th
From March 6th-9th 2023, UKPC Director General (DG) Richard Lusimbo attended the RPM session in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting brought together experts and stakeholders in the HIV response to discuss the importance of equity and community leadership in achieving better outcomes for key populations (KP). The session highlighted the policy and legal barriers, as well as societal norms, that limit the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of HIV services for KP, and discussed how the PEPFAR platform can support countries to address these structural barriers programmatically and diplomatically. Below are the DG’s reflections.
The RPM session on March 6th-10th brought together experts and stakeholders in the HIV response to discuss the importance of equity and community leadership in achieving better outcomes for key populations (KP).
Richard Lusimbo, the Director General of the Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC), highlighted the policy and legal barriers, as well as societal norms, that limit the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of HIV services for KP. He also discussed how the PEPFAR platform can support countries to address these structural barriers programmatically and diplomatically.
While there have been successes in the HIV response in Uganda, such as the establishment of a strong health system and robust community-based response, there are still disparities in access to HIV services and outcomes, particularly among KP community. To close these equity gaps, it is necessary to address structural barriers such as stigma and discrimination, criminalization of KP, and limited access to comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment services.
To achieve the 95-95-95 targets and improve the HIV response for KP, PEPFAR should prioritize funding for programs that serve key populations, strengthen health systems, expand access to prevention services, ensure gender-responsive programming, address stigma and discrimination, and engage communities and civil society. These recommendations are critical to achieving the goal of ending the HIV epidemic and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Additionally, KP-focused comprehensive linkage to care and retention (CLM) is a key strategy to ensure that health facilities are KP-friendly and that HIV services and commodities are available for KPs when and where they need them. KP-focused CLM can work with health facilities to improve the health facility environment, link KPs to care, improve commodity security, build community engagement, and monitor and evaluate their work.
Closing the gap in the HIV response for KP requires a multi-sectoral approach that involves engaging key stakeholders such as law enforcement, the justice sector, and faith-based organizations. Governments and partners need to prioritize investments in programs and services that are tailored to the needs of KP and ensure that they are delivered in a culturally competent and non-discriminatory manner. KP consortia can also play a critical role in advancing the HIV response by advocating for the rights and health of KP, building capacity of KP-led organizations, and fostering partnerships between KP and other stakeholders.
As we move forward in the HIV response, it is crucial to prioritize KP and close the equity gap in access to HIV services and outcomes. We must address the structural barriers that limit the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of HIV services for KP and prioritise funding for programs that serve key populations. By doing so, we can achieve the 95-95-95 targets and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV.