20/12/2017
The network strategy for the elimination of the HIV / AIDS epidemic in the cities of Cascais, Lisbon and Oporto, prepared by the working group constituted by Order No. 5215/2017, of June 12, is in public consultation until December 31, 2017.
The incidence of HIV in large cities is much higher than in other areas of the country. The number of new cases in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Oporto represents about two thirds of the number of new infections in Portugal. It is therefore recognized that cities play a key role in accelerating the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In addition, urban dynamics often increase the risk and vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly as they face challenges such as high population density, migration and inequalities.
Municipalities represent an important resource for meeting the 90-90-90 goals proposed by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which consists of 90 % of people living with HIV being diagnosed, 90% of those receiving treatment and 90 % of people undergoing drug therapy achieve viral suppression.
In this context, on the World AIDS Day in 2014, the Paris Declaration «Cities on the Fast Track to End the HIV Epidemic» was launched, committing the signatories to end the AIDS epidemic in cities by 2030.
In this context, it is also important in Portugal to introduce positive change to start in the cities of Cascais, Lisbon and Oporto, contributing to the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic.
Differentiated strategies to address the challenges of diagnosis, treatment and viral suppression in infected citizens in these regions are therefore relevant. The international project «Cities on the Fast Track to End the HIV Epidemic» is an opportunity for the mobilization of different social actors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in Europe and Portugal. In spite of a 74 % reduction in new cases between 2000 and 2016, Portugal continues to have a high incidence of this infection, particularly in the most vulnerable populations, and therefore it is urgent to adopt integrated policies aimed at prevention, early identification of new cases and orientation of infected individuals to health services, in order to initiate treatment expeditiously, implementing a comprehensive policy to control the HIV epidemic.
At this stage, and in view of the development of the operational dimension of the strategy, the broad collection of opinions, suggestions and contributions by all stakeholders is essential. All contributions can be sent to the Ministry of Health, through an online form, by December 31, 2017.
Order no. 5215/2017 of June 12, 2017 determined the creation of the working group with the objective of defining a network strategy for the elimination of the HIV epidemic in the cities of Cascais, Lisbon and Oporto. Included in the scope of the international project “Cities on the Fast Track to End the HIV epidemic”, it should ensure the coordination of municipalities with the various institutions of the Ministry of Health and civil society organizations, in pursuit of this goal, ensuring an integrated use of resources and of the various projects to be developed.
At the end of the public consultation period, the working group will make use of the contributions in order to develop the operational dimension of the document, thus fully implementing the strategy that will make Portugal the first country on the fast track to HIV elimination.
See:
Report | Fast Track Cities to end the HIV epidemic– PDF – 476 KB