Fitness for Health and Relaxation

The support and the need to continue strengthening the national health plans for people with HIV or AIDS, are the first conclusions of the debate on the implementation of rules and specific actions on this sector, held at the National Network of Argentina of Positive People in the locality of Chapadmalal.

The meeting, which extiendió until yesterday and attended by some 250 people living with HIV or AIDS, from various provinces, assessed until such time as “very important progress was mostly in the last year and a half, as it relates to access health and the reduction in the stigma, “said Jose Maria Di Bello, a member of the Network

Di Bello, who with Alex Freyre, are the first gay couple married in Argentina, said that since the network of people living with HIV, “we want to join and deeper into the prevention of AIDS in general and in particular specific groups where the prevalence of AIDS is greater, as trans people. ”

Within the transgender population 35% have HIV, according to the latest Ministry of Health of the Nation, and within the gay population prevalence of over 12%. Di Bello said that “in this context and continuing with the deepening of the national model, it is possible to further improve access to health,” he said, noting that “during 2010 and so far 2011 is continued access to pensions no tax for people with HIV. ”

At the meeting here today continued adolescents, young adults assessing the progress of the national and provincial health sector and implementation of measures against stigma and discrimination.

In relation to discrimination, where HIV affects members of the trans or gay community, the stigma reaches levels that denigrate the human condition, according to reference the members of the conference.

One aspect of the meeting was to identify barriers to access to treatment and services, and discuss new strategies to improve public policies regarding access to treatment and comprehensive services for the sector.

Alcira Gonzalez, another member of the Network of Rosario, said that “here we see different realities with respect to access and quality of health services because they come from different provinces.”

Marked the aspects to be developed by noting that “we must aim to improve everything that has to do with the awareness of health teams to improve their care,” adding that “we still see the discrimination and prejudices regarding HIV. ”

With respect to drugs, recalled that is effective universal access to treatment but “in some provinces do not have the speed needed in the distribution and delivery of drugs.”

He added that “there are also delays in authorizations for viral loads and specific analysis are those that have to do 2 or 3 times a year.”

For its part, the teen Camila Arce, 16, who lives in Cordoba, said that “this is the first positive youth summit, and there are many kids who told their situation and note that the situation improved for us.”

“There is better care, receive medication that is free, and luckily there are more doctors now than before in regard to pediatric and HIV,” he said.

He said that “the issue of discrimination always is the fear to speak, how you will react the other, in my case I suffered a lot when the parents of my ex found out I had HIV because he forbade me seen and treated me like I had no future. ”

In this context, the Network members said they will encounter as a corollary “the diffusion of a ruling in favor of the continuity of the policies implemented by the Government for people with HIV or AIDS,” said Alex Freyre turn One of the leaders of the meeting.