Mainstreaming

In 2006, world leaders made an historic commitment to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. As national resources are scaled up to meet this global target, many countries face significant barriers. These include inequitable access to health services, stigma and discrimination, and limited infrastructure and human capacity. While some barriers are specific to HIV, many others are associated with the wider social, economic and political issues that increase people’s vulnerability to the epidemic and exacerbates its impact.

Tackling these major barriers to universal access requires a coordinated and wide-ranging response, one that involves multiple and diverse sectors, within the health sector and beyond. In particular, the international development community and non-health government ministries of developing countries must play a bigger part in changing the fundamental aspects of the social, economic and political systems that drive the pandemic.

Mainstreaming is an effective way to do this. Through mainstreaming, non-health sectors and non-AIDS specialists – whether community groups or government ministries – can become involved in addressing HIV epidemics by using their existing strengths and comparative advantages. As a result, multiple actors can help tackle the barriers to achieving universal access, and ensuring equitable access for all.

Stop AIDS Alliance also advocates for the need for workplace policies on HIV/AIDS. HIV and AIDS threaten productivity, profitability and the welfare of all employees and their families. A comprehensive response therefore needs an increased focus on workplace policies in EU development cooperation.

Mainstreaming

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