Teddy Zvirawa’s Post

Remembering the days when I conducted research with people living with HIV/AIDS as population and the days of me working on my bachelor's thesis which felt enjoyable to me because I had always been interested in the subject since the beginning of my studies. Today, after opening my old bachelor's thesis file, I then visited websites that used to be very familiar. In mid-2024, I accessed data and news on the UNAIDS website. I would like to invite you all to read UNAIDS' targets for 2025 before 2024 end. The proposed targets of UNAIDS in 2025 will be divide into three categories, which include: 1. Comprehensive HIV services. 2. People-centred, context-specific service integration. 3. Removal of societal and legal impediments to an enabling environment for HIV services.

On Friday I had the absolute honour of attending the HIV Prevention England 2024 conference in London. The vulnerability and bravery that the speakers brought when sharing their stories of living with HIV was remarkable and I felt very lucky to be in the room listening to them. There was a real magic about the day. The positivity and hopefulness of everyone there was mixed with a deep determination and sheer drive to achieve the goal of 0 new transmissions by 2030. In terms of my work, I’m relatively new to the world of HIV, but I feel proud to be an ally and to have the opportunity to learn more about this community. Here’s a wee summary of my takeaways from the conference: ✨Positive speakers - the people standing in front of audiences sharing their story, are going to be the beating heart of the drive to reduce stigma around HIV ✨For training and education to really connect with people, it needs to be created with the input of those it's meant for, making it more inclusive and well-rounded ✨Peer education can be a powerful tool in raising awareness of HIV and PrEP, especially amongst women from black and Caribbean heritage communities ✨The language in some current campaigns could be alienating some groups, particularly heterosexual men and women. Reframing prevention as a form of self-care and empowerment instead of risk management could be the way to engage those the current campaigns are missing ✨To get to 2030 the agism, transphobia, & racism that exists in the healthcare system should be confronted #HIVPreventionEngland2024 #HIVprevention #itstartswithus #terrencehigginstrust

March 10 is an important day for all women and girls, as it is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) created this day to help everyone learn more about HIV and AIDS and its impact on both women and girls. Today marks the 19th observance of this day, with the theme of “Prevention and Testing at Every Age. Care and Treatment at Every Stage” to emphasize the need to further prevention efforts and ensure equity in HIV/AIDS care and treatment. It also reinforces the first three goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: the focus on the prevention of new HIV infections, the improvement of HIV-related health outcomes of those living with HIV, and the reduction of HIV-related disparities. With particular preventative attention directed to the following three target populations: youth ages 13-24 years, black women, and transgender women. In the United States, about 23% of people living with HIV are women, and in 2021, women made up 19% of new diagnoses, according to CDC data. The highest number of new diagnoses were among women ages 25 to 44. Advances in testing, treatment, and prevention have resulted in progress towards the nation’s goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. To learn more, visit OWH at womenshealth.gov. #NWGHAAD #OWH #girlsspark #pa #pennsylvania #girls #women #empowerment #girlsempowerment #girlpower #HIV #AIDS #awareness

U.S. Business Action to End HIV is proud to have become the nation’s largest coalition of employers — mobilizing over 100 companies — committed to filling gaps and accelerating progress to help end HIV in the U.S. In just two years, the Coalition has: ✅ Created a robust B2B learning community guided by HIV community leaders. ✅ Enabled impactful partnerships and built connections between business and public health. ✅ Mobilized businesses to champion HIV policy priorities. ✅ Received national recognition for our impact. This World AIDS Day, we’re at a pivotal moment in the fight to end HIV. Ending the epidemic in the U.S. is within our reach, but achieving this goal will require a united effort from all sectors of society — particularly the business community. There’s an opportunity to harness the power of the private sector and bring innovation and new thinking to this fight. Be a part of the impact and join the movement today: https://lnkd.in/d3hfFPci [Video produced by Coalition member Diagonal Media // DGNL] #WorldAIDSDay #EndHIV #BusinessForImpact #HealthEquity #WorkplaceHealth  #CommunityHealth #USBusinessActionToEndHIV

GBV contributes significantly to the risk of HIV among young women. Gender violence and HIV/AIDS are two interconnected public health challenges that disproportionately affect young women globally. Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and coercion, remains pervasive worldwide. Young women, especially those aged 15-24, are particularly vulnerable. We need to ensure that young women have access to HIV testing, contraceptives, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) can mitigate the impact of GBV on HIV transmission and not forgetting mobilization of communities to challenge harmful gender norms, support survivors, and provide resources for GBV prevention and HIV support to be able to foster resilience among young women in conclusion, The intersection of gender violence and HIV risk among young women underscores the urgent need for comprehensive approaches that address underlying social, economic, and cultural determinants. By integrating GBV prevention strategies with HIV programming, we can create safer environments where young women can thrive free from violence and HIV/AIDS. #hivawareness #genderequality #endsexualviolence

Sunday is National Women & Girls HIV AIDS Awareness Day. Did you know: There were 4,444 HIV diagnosis in California in 2021. Of those, 12% were among women. Black/African American and Latinx are disproportionately impacted. In the US, as of 2021, women still comprise about 23% of people living with HIV while accounting for 20% of new HIV diagnoses, of which 2% were among transgender women. As we consider these rates, it is critical to highlight the disproportionate impact HIV continues to have on Black, Latina and other racial and ethnic women. Learn more about HIV statistics among women at www.CHPRC.org. #NWGHAAD

🚀 New insight on HIV Self-Testing! 🔬 Our recent study published in the Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa sheds light on HIV self-testing among South African women. Key findings indicate a low uptake at only 3.1% among the participants. Factors like employment and access to information (e.g., reading newspapers) significantly influence testing rates. 🎯 The study underscores the need for targeted educational and support programs to increase awareness and accessibility of HIV self-testing, particularly among young women. 📖 Explore the detailed outcomes and implications of this important research here: (https://lnkd.in/gwjPfscu). #HIVAwareness #WomenHealth #PublicHealth #SouthAfrica #HIVPrevention

Today is #WorldAIDSDay2024. A lot of progress was made since the discovery of #HIV, thanks to incredible scientific breakthrough and treatment. Yet, close to 40 million people are living with HIV, out of which one in four are still not accessing life-saving treatment. In sub-Saharan #Africa – the region most affected by HIV – fewer than half of adolescents and young people have comprehensive knowledge of HIV. At UNESCO, we know that #education is a powerful tool to reduce new HIV infections. It empowers young people to protect themselves from HIV, unintended pregnancy and preventable infections, encourages them to seek out health-related information and services, promotes values of tolerance and respect, and supports a safe transition into adulthood. UNESCO supports national education authorities and partners to strengthen their existing curricula and adapt content and approaches to their local context. Our work aims to provide young people with the knowledge and information needed to stay healthy and learning in a school that is safe and inclusive. As one of the six founding cosponsors UNAIDS, UNESCO contributes to SDG target 3.3 to end the AIDS epidemic. This year, human rights are at the centre with this Day calling all of us to take the 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 path. We can and must #EndAIDS altogether, through quality education and through collective commitment. Read more by clicking on the link in the comment below 👇

These strategies, aligned with the needs of the Fijian community, aim to enhance the response to HIV by addressing various aspects of healthcare, education, and social support. Consider implementing these key initiatives: -1. Implement mobile health clinics to extend services to remote areas, offering testing, counseling, and treatment. 2. Utilize digital health solutions like telehealth and mobile apps to provide education and follow-up care, especially benefiting tech-savvy younger populations. 3. Integrate vocational training and microfinance for economic empowerment, reducing barriers to healthcare access for individuals living with HIV. 4. Launch stigma reduction campaigns with testimonials to challenge misconceptions and promote acceptance, combating HIV-related stigma. 5. Establish comprehensive sexual education programs in schools to educate students on HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, empowering a proactive generation. 6. Develop robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and ensure efficient resource allocation. 7. Advocate for supportive policies such as anti-discrimination laws and funding for HIV programs to bring systemic changes benefiting the community. By integrating these strategies, the response to HIV in Fiji can become more holistic and impactful. How do you anticipate these ideas being received in the communities you're familiar with

December 1 marks World AIDS Day. Some quick stats: 🚩 HIV was first identified more than 40 years ago. 📢 1.3 million people still acquire HIV annually, and more than 600,000 lose their lives to AIDS-related causes. The burden of HIV remains inequitably distributed and disproportionately impacts LMICs as well as marginalized communities — including men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, and adolescent girls and young women. The theme of #WorldAIDSDay2024, “Take the rights path: My health, my right,” speaks to the need to continue pursuing equity in the global HIV response by advocating for human rights and against stigmatization. In recognition of this, IAVI and our partners pursue a global access agenda centered on ensuring the products we are developing will reach all people who need them. We remain resolute in our commitment to advance ambitious HIV prevention research, which holds much promise for the future. Read more about IAVI's World AIDS Day 2024 reflections and activities ⭐ https://lnkd.in/et3Bp3TV #HIV #WAD2024 #UniteToReachAll #TaketheRightsPath