APCOM welcomes WHO’s new Consolidated Guidelines on HIV prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care for Key Populations. The Guidelines brings together all existing guidance relevant to five key populations – MSM, transgender people, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prisons and other closed settings, along with the updates of selected guidance and recommendations.
WHO has developed normative guidances separately for each of the five key populations, yet they have not adequately addressed overarching issues relating to key populations. Similarly, the WHO’s global HIV guidance, including the 2013 consolidated ARV guidelines, did not specifically consider issues relating to key populations. The new consolidated guidelines aim to address these gaps and limitations.
APCOM Board Member Dede Oetome and Executive Director Midnight Poonkasetwattana are among the external peer reviewers of the Guidelines. The Guidelines, which outline the steps for countries to take to reduce new HIV infections and increase access to HIV services by populations at higher risk, is a great additional tool for APCOM’s advocacy work in high-level discourse and/or with policy makers.
To access the policy briefs and web annexes of the Guidelines, go here.
