Immaculate Owomugisha Bazare

This late-breaker session focused on addressing the inequalities communities face, identifying models for combating HIV stigma, supporting uninterrupted HIV service delivery among key populations, and addressing structural barriers that hinder access to HIV service delivery. In addition, it addressed the outbreak of unfamiliar infectious diseases such as mpox.

Access to HIV services and service utilization decreasesdue to the inequalities produced by structural barriers. In a presentation on HIV service access in Uganda, USA Ambassador to Uganda Natalia Brown and PEPFAR colleague Vamsi Vasireddy, emphasized the need to address structural barriers such as laws that criminalize key populations. Citing the Anti-Homosexual Act in Uganda as example, presenters noted that mitigating strategies have been put in place, including enhanced security, telehealth options and HIV services delivered to homes. In addition, the Ministry of Health issued a directive calling health workers to continue providing services regardless of the law. Ambassador Brown called for ongoing commitment to ensure that key populations could continue to access HIV services. Dr Julia Rozanova presented research from Kyrgyzstan on strategies for living with HIV and drug dependency during and after Covid-19 crisis in a prison population. Dr Rozanova recommended to strengthening psychological services in prison and providing effective pharmaceutical treatment for those experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Anthony K.J. Smith presented qualitative research on the social and health experience of people affected by mpox. He highlighted the distressing aspects of the illness, involving severe symptoms and difficult isolation periods and made recommendations for trauma-informed care.

These presentations highlight the need to address structural barriers to accessing to health services. This includes ensuring that there is law reform and that needs of the health care providers are addressed to holistically support people living with HIV. Governments should ensure that services are available for all people living with HIV. Discrimination and inequalities in the provision of pain relief are unacceptable should not be tolerated in service delivery for any population