HIV and AIDS policy
Everyone has the right to access the HIV and AIDS information and the services they need. This includes older men and women.
HIV and AIDS affects older people in a number of ways:
- A large and growing number of older people are living with HIV. But they rarely receive adequate prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Older people around the world support and care for loved ones living with HIV and children orphaned as a result of AIDS. This has a huge impact on their economic, health and emotional wellbeing.
- It is often assumed that older people are no longer sexually active and therefore not at risk of HIV. Older people are at risk of infection through the same routes as anyone else but are rarely included in HIV and AIDS awareness education.
The difference we're determined to make in the response to HIV and AIDS
Older people are increasingly affected by HIV and AIDS and have the potential to play a significant role in the response as peer educators and supporters. In addition, older people already make a huge contribution in their role as carers.
We are determined to support them through advocating for:
- Age-sensitive HIV prevention messages, developed with and provided by older people themselves.
- Access to HIV counselling, testing and treatment for older people and trained health workers that understand their specific needs.
- Increased recognition of the vital contribution older carers are making, and support as they carry out this vital role. For example, through income security, access to healthcare and protection of inheritance rights.
- Global HIV and AIDS indicators that include older people, and national surveys and epidemic monitoring to be extended beyond the age of 49.
- Recognition that the AIDS epidemic is ageing and that research to understand the interaction between ageing and HIV is needed, particularly in terms of the challenges for older people's health and treatment adherence.
Examples of our HIV and AIDS work
- WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV and AIDS 2011-15 included older people as a key population group the HIV response. It also recognised the need for attention to addressing the needs of older people living with HIV and for non communicable disease programmes to include conditions associated with ageing.
- The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Youth Minimum Package Document and Business Plan now includes references to older people. Specifically, it states that social protection measures should translate into increased resources for older carers.
- The HIV and AIDS Policy in Tanzania and Strategic Plan for Intensifying Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS Response in Ethiopia both included recognition of the impact of the epidemic on older people.
- In Mozambique and Tanzania, governments have committed to revising data collection on HIV and AIDS infection, treatment and care to include people over 49 years. This recognises the vital role older men and women play as carers, and acknowledges the fact that people over 50 have sex too.