The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is female

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13.07.2023 – 13:55

German Foundation World Population (DSW)

Hannover (ots)

Every week, 4,000 young women and girls are infected with HIV worldwide, 3,200 of them in sub-Saharan Africa. For the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), the UNAIDS report published today is a wake-up call to take consistent action against gender injustice and stigmatization.

Despite all the progress made in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide, young women and girls (15-24 years) in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa are still at risk of infection up to three times higher than a man of the same age. Gender and other inequalities, violence, stigma, discrimination and ultra-conservative laws all affect their ability to fully protect themselves from HIV.

“The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa has a distinctly female character and it is crucial to recognize this and take targeted action,” emphasizes Angela Bähr, Deputy Managing Director of DSW. “For more than ten years, the UNAIDS reports have made it clear that girls are particularly affected – action must finally be taken if we want to achieve a world without HIV/AIDS.”

The low social status of women and girls is one of the most important reasons for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. In six countries in the region with particularly high infection rates, such as Uganda and Tanzania, women who had experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partner in the past year were 3.2 times more likely to have been recently infected with HIV than those who had not experienced such violence. In this context, Bähr warns: “We must finally provide sufficient funds to promote comprehensive education and prevention on site, instead of concealing and condemning the transmission paths.”

Only through targeted measures, the reduction of inequalities and the promotion of gender equality can progress towards a world without HIV/AIDS be accelerated. “Against this background, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) is more important than ever and it is regrettable to see that its funding has fallen back to the level of 2013,” emphasizes Bähr, referring to Germany: Das has set a good example with its feminist development policy approach and increased its funds to 1.3 billion last year, but in view of the budget cuts that have now been announced, it must not fall short of its own targets.

About the German Foundation for World Population (DSW)

The German Foundation for World Population (DSW) is an internationally active development organization with the aim of promoting the potential of the greatest generation of young people of all times in order to contribute to sustainable population development. It gives young people in East Africa access to health information suitable for young people and modern contraceptives, and also campaigns at the political level for the right to physical self-determination, especially for young women and girls. In addition, the offices in Europe and East Africa work for the gender-equitable promotion of research and innovation to combat poverty-related diseases.

Press contact:

Nicole Langenbach
press secretary
German Foundation World Population (DSW)
Loebensteinstr. 25 | 30175 Hannover
Phone: 0511 94373-20 | Fax: 0511 94373-73
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.dsw.org

Original content from: German Foundation for World Population (DSW), transmitted by news aktuell