July 20, 2014
Written by Susie McLean
Three leading HIV and drugs organisations have issued a stark warning that global funding for HIV prevention for people who inject drugs is in crisis and that achieving an ‘AIDS-free generation’ will be impossible without concerted action.
To coincide with the 20th International AIDS Conference, Harm Reduction International, the International Drug Policy Consortium and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are publishing a report which indicates that HIV prevention services for people who inject drugs are not being prioritised due to changing donor policies and national government neglect. This failure to invest will bring an exponential rise in HIV transmission which in turn will cause additional costs to government health sectors.
The report, The funding crisis for harm reduction: Donor retreat, government neglect and the way forward, highlights that:
The report recommends changes in international donor priorities and national spending to address the crisis.
Read this article in Sunday’s Observer for more information about the report which can be downloaded from Monday 21 July here.
The author Susie McLean is senior advisor on drug use and HIV with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.