Munich, Germany – The African Center for Health, Climate and Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) has unveiled a stark reality: climate change could intensify the battle against HIV/AIDS. Fresh from the 25th International AIDS Conference, AIDS forum in Munich, Germany, ACHCGA is sharing a resounding alarm on the devastating convergence of these two global crises.
Extreme weather events, a hallmark of climate change, are disrupting healthcare systems, displacing communities, and deepening poverty – conditions that heighten vulnerability to HIV infection.
“This is not merely an environmental challenge; it has a profound health crisis,” emphasized Bernard Maswach, Partnership Lead at ACHCGA, a youth-led non-governmental in Kenya. “We are witnessing firsthand how climate change is eroding the gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Accordingly Susan Sumba, Project Coordinator at Positive Women’s Empowerment and Resilience (POWER), also underscored the urgency of equitable access to HIV treatment. While speaking Liberal News Network she said, “Free HIV treatment for all segments of the population is imperative to safeguard public health.”
Kenya, already grappling with a significant HIV burden, is experiencing the compounding effects of climate change. Disruptions to healthcare infrastructure due to extreme weather have hindered access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy for countless individuals.
The African Center for Health, Climate, and Gender Justice Alliance is calling for more research work and decisive action to address the intersection of climate change and HIV/AIDS. This includes robust investments in climate-resilient health systems, targeted support for vulnerable populations, and the seamless integration of HIV prevention and treatment services into broader climate adaptation strategies.