AIDS Action Europe as a part of the Regional Collaborating Committee on Accelerated Response to Tuberculosis, HIV and Viral Hepatitis ((RCC-THV) hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe contributed to the development and co-signed this call to action on national governments, development partners, United Nations agencies and civil society in response to COVID-19.
During this time in which the COVID-19 pandemic is rampant, taking human lives and undermining health-care systems, we as members of the Regional Collaborative Committee on Accelerated Response to Tuberculosis, HIV and Viral Hepatitis (RCC-THV) hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, are concerned with the safety and health conditions of people affected by HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis. These populations are exposed to stigma and discrimination, and lack access to quality health services, universal health coverage, information and social support – which makes them more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We call on national governments, development partners, United Nations agencies and civil society to increase their efforts to ensure rights- and equity-based approaches in the provision of information, care and social support to the most vulnerable communities and key populations affected by the three diseases.