HIV

Prevention

Prevention remains at the heart of the International Federation’s approach to HIV. Prevention is intrinsically linked to interventions on stigma and discrimination and care and treatment.

Effective prevention requires the development of life skills, and good information and social mobilization to counter the stigma and discrimination that can hamper access to treatment.

Effective treatment and care eases stigma and boosts prevention through, for example, motivating people to be tested for HIV and thus get help to look after themselves and protect others. In contrast, discrimination and exclusion fuels further spread of the pandemic and deprives society of the productive contribution of people living with HIV.   

Up until now, the International Federation has advocated the ABC approach to prevention – abstinence, be faithful, condom. It is now clear that this approach to providing choice can  only be partly effective unless it also addresses the issue of  empowerment amongst women, vulnerable groups and those affected HIV.

In line with International Federation policy, prevention strategies will now be significantly scaled up to include the following:

• Peer education and community mobilization
• Information, education, and communication for targeted vulnerable groups;
• Promoting voluntary counselling and testing
• Promoting the prevention of mother to child transmission
• Promoting skills for personal protection, including condom use.

Publications

• Spreading the Light of Science: Guidelines on Harm Reduction related to injecting drug users, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2003
• Rising to the Challenge: A Strategy for The Global Red Cross Red Crescent HIV and AIDS Alliance, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, November 2006
• Evaluation of  the 2002-2005 HIV/AIDS Global Programme, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2005