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{
"id": 1037014,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1037014/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Seneta",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 611,
"legal_name": "Mary Yiane Senata",
"slug": "mary-yiane-senata"
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"content": "and infected. This is despite the enactment of the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act (HAPCA) 2006 to ensure prohibition of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. In addition, the country established and operationalized the HIV and AIDS Tribunal to increase access to justice against all forms of HIV stigma and discrimination. Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, however, has led to far-reaching ramifications on all sectors of national and global economies. The COVID-19 pandemic has had direct negative consequences on the fight against HIV risking, eroding the gains made thus far, especially on the Global target of 90-90-90. Both COVID-19 and HIV control require the participation of citizenry and governments to control the two pandemics. The Government of Kenya, therefore, has put in place a number of restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, including but not limited to the daily curfews and restriction in the number of participants in public gatherings. It is against this background that the World AIDS Day 2020 will be commemorated under special circumstances. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have seen how the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the challenges faced by people living with HIV, women and girls and key populations, including in accessing life-saving health care, and how the crisis has widened the social and economic inequalities that increase the vulnerability of marginalized groups to HIV. However, this crisis has also been a wake-up call, an opportunity to do things differently, better and together. In many respects, the defeat of AIDS as a public health threat depends on how the world responds to COVID-19. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the COVID-19 has also shown how political will can bring about change. We have seen governments putting in place extraordinary policy measures and financial resources to save lives and protect livelihoods. We have seen collaboration between countries to ensure continuity of HIV treatment and we have seen countries rallying behind the international call to make a COVID-19 vaccine a People’s Vaccine, available to all equitably. As we enter the last decade of action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, we need the political will to reach our goal. It can be done! Global solidarity and shared responsibility requires us to view global health responses, including the AIDS response, in a new way. It requires the world to come together to ensure that health is fully financed, health systems are strengthened, access to life-saving medicines, vaccines and diagnostics is ensured as a public good, human rights are respected and the rights of women and girls, and gender equality are at the centre. The latest progress report of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, launched on 23rd November, 2020 in Geneva, shows that despite observed declines in new HIV infections among adults in several countries, overall progress in HIV prevention efforts remains variable and is too slow to reach the 2020 targets committed to at the 2016 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS. This is where United Nations Member States committed to reach a worldwide HIV prevention target of fewer than 500,000 new HIV infections among adults by 2020, a 75 per cent reduction from 2010. By the end of 2019, the reduction was at just 23 per cent, with 1.7 million people becoming infected with HIV last year. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}