This July the ICMDA HIV Initiative had the privilege to present a seminar at the ICMDA World Congress in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Winners of the 2006 and 2009 ‘Dignity and Right to Health Awards’ Drs Biangtung Langkham & Stephen Waititi. Both spoke eloquently of their long experiences in tackling HIV in (respectively) India and Uganda.
The issue of harm minimisation as opposed to harm elimination was discussed at some length – in particular the issue of whether Christian organisations should be involved in distributing condoms to commercial sex workers – on the one hand this seems to condone behaviour that is not just dangerous but morally wrong, but on the other hand, as we know that they will be plying their trade whatever we say, we should at least seek to minimise their risks, and in so doing earn their trust and the right to help them find other ways of earning a living. The issue extends to clean needle exchanges for IV drug users, and working with other individuals and groups who engage in high risk behaviours.
We hope to bring further news and reports from the World AIDS Conference and other international news in the coming months
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