03/12/2024
World AIDS Day: A Call for Action, Equity, and Compassion
On World AIDS Day - 1st December 2024, we unite as a global community to reflect on the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, honour the lives impacted, and recommit to the vision of a future free from this epidemic.
As family doctors, we are often the first point of care, making us critical in prevention, early detection, treatment, and the ongoing support of those living with HIV. Our responsibility extends beyond clinical care—we are advocates for equity and champions against stigma, ensuring that every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.
This year’s theme, “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”, underscores the urgent need for equitable healthcare access. In Malta and across the world, barriers to treatment and prevention persist, particularly for vulnerable populations. Removing these barriers is not just an ethical imperative but a practical necessity if we are to meet the global goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The availability of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) has been transformative in reducing new HIV infections. However, for these tools to fulfill their potential, they must be freely accessible to all who need them—in Malta and beyond. Free access is not merely about affordability; it is a matter of public health equity and justice.
Let us also remember the human aspect of this fight. Beyond medications and technology, ending stigma and discrimination remains vital. Compassionate care and community awareness are the cornerstones of an inclusive and effective healthcare system.
To our colleagues in family medicine, public health, and advocacy: thank you for your relentless efforts to create a world where HIV/AIDS is no longer a threat to health and dignity. Together, we can turn the tide and ensure no one is left behind.
