Africa-Press – Angola. Angola may have, in the coming months, a new law to reinforce the rights of people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), more adapted to the current context, announced yesterday in Luanda, the director of the National Institute for the Fight against AIDS.
Maria Lúcia Furtado said, during the seminar “Presentation of the Proposal for Revision of the HIV Law”, that they have been carrying out consultations for consultation and consultation between civil society partners and activists.
“Medicine is based on evidence and over the years it is important to review the Law, especially 04/08, implemented in 2004”, he highlighted, adding that at the time Luanda only had eight health units for the treatment of people with HIV. “Currently, the country’s capital has more units, an advance that has allowed the improvement of primary care.”
Previously, he explained, people diagnosed with HIV had to wait to have a specific condition, in this case the CD4 molecule, which had to be below 250, to start treatment. “Today, the picture is different. With advances in technology, regardless of serological status, HIV patients can start medication at any time.”
The director also lamented the fact that stigma and discrimination are still a problem. “The review of the law includes these points. It is necessary to guarantee complete protection for patients”, she said, in addition to warning of the importance of reinforcing punitive aspects, such as the criminalization of transmission through fraud.
Due to discrimination, he added, most people are afraid to take the test and find out their serological status. “In some cases, the person knows they are HIV positive, but does not take treatment, for fear of social stigma. It is a wrong attitude, as it tends to generate intentional actions”, he highlighted.
The meeting, he highlighted, will serve to collect contributions, in order to create a more robust, inclusive law and aligned with other existing legal diplomas on Human Rights.
Inclusion
The deputy resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Mamissoa Rangers, said that for the initiative to be successful it is also necessary to listen to the different social actors, work to be developed throughout a series of consultations with multiple sectors.
“Just like 20 years ago, we have the chance to take advantage of evidence and scientific advances to learn from the recently approved laws of countries in the region and propose a review at the level of Angola, as a reference in the matter”, he explained.
UNDP Angola, he assured, is aligned with the global strategy to reduce HIV cases and is ready to support policies and debates in favor of inclusion and against discrimination of people with the virus.
“We want to continue working with partners for sustainable and inclusive development, without leaving anyone behind, based on the 2030 agenda. We intend to give special attention to marginalized people”, he said.
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