Due to the great progress many think the fight against AIDS is won and humanity will soon overcome this disease completely. However, since 2015 the number of new HIV infections is no longer decreasing. The number of new infections within certain vulnerable groups, such as adolescent girls in southern Africa, is even on the rise. Therefore, the Government of Flanders has chosen to adapt its strategy in the global fight against HIV and Aids. More resources will be used for effective prevention strategies that can produce a sustainable reduction in the number of new infections especially amongst adolescent girls in southern Africa.
The Government continues to support research and development of microbicide-based technologies for women to protect themselves. For example the support for the successful introduction of the vaginal ring. This ring, easily inserted by the girl or woman herself, protects the woman during a month by secreting a deadly substance against the HIV virus. The big challenge is to encourage consistent use of the ring, especially by young girls. In Southern Africa an awareness campaign is needed, towards young women but also towards their male partners and the entire community. These are the objectives of the second project of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) that the Government of Flanders supports with EUR 400,000.
At the same time work continues on the broad emancipation of young girls in southern Africa. They should be made aware of their right to education and right to health so that they can enforce those rights in their dealings with the government and within their community. To reach this objective, the Flemish (400,000 euros) and the Catalan Government (100,000 euros) support a project of ActionAid Mozambique. Through girl clubs, young girls are taught about their rights. Also, raising the awareness of parents, school councils, communities, religious leaders and multisectoral groups is part of the project. Together they can create an environment where girls have more and better opportunities to lead a healthy life.
Finally, the Government of Flanders remains a loyal supporter of the Special Program for Research on Human Reproduction (HRP) within the World Health Organization (750,000 euros per year). This program provides crucial scientific insights into the most effective way to conduct the fight against HIV and AIDS. They advocated successfully for the expansion of the health agenda of the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon,: from "Every woman, Every Child" to "Every woman, Every Child, Every Adolescent". This will contribute enormously to attract more attention and investments from various UN agencies to cover sexual, reproductive and other health needs of adolescents. Second, HRP is showing us that a focus on the most vulnerable groups, including LGBTI people, not only improves the human rights of everyone, but additionally provides for better and increased health results. Thirdly, this program is enabling health systems worldwide to contribute meaningfully to the fight against violence against women and girls. Violence that helps to explain the increase in new HIV infections.
