"This is an opportunity and a great responsibility to serve our region, Latin America, in the urgent task of inspiring our leaders and citizens to strengthen the integration of strategies to promote a human rights based approach, dignity and non-discrimination to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”—Lorena Castillo de Varela, First Lady of Panama
Update
First Lady of Panama named UNAIDS Special Ambassador for AIDS in Latin America
19 November 2015
19 November 201519 November 2015
The First Lady of Panama, Lorena Castillo de Varela, has been named as a UNAIDS Special Ambassado
The First Lady of Panama, Lorena Castillo de Varela, has been named as a UNAIDS Special Ambassador for AIDS in Latin America. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé appointed her during a visit to Panama, noting her commitment to expanding HIV testing coverage and bringing services closer to people. More than 15 000 people were tested for HIV in June 2015 as part of the Tests Save Lives campaign, which was led by the First Lady and the Ministry of Health.
The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace on 16 November with the participation of President Juan Carlos Varela, Vice-President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado and Minister of Health Francisco Terrientes. The dignitaries, along with the First Lady, reaffirmed their commitment to Fast-Track the AIDS response and work towards ending the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
Panama has made important progress in the AIDS response. HIV prevalence was 0.6% in 2014, with an estimated 53% of adults living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Mr Sidibé lauded Panama’s efforts and noted that the country is in a position to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. These figures hide large disparities by geographic region and population group, however. For example, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men was 7.7% in 2014.
Mr Sidibé said that social issues that increase vulnerabilities need to be addressed and that improved comprehensive sexuality education can have a significant impact on reducing new HIV infections. He also encouraged increasing sustainable funding to civil society organizations working on HIV and on human rights issues related to the epidemic.
The government agreed that it is important to include vulnerable and marginalized people in the AIDS response. Nationwide there are six primary health centres for key populations, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people. An additional three centres will open soon. The clinics focus on the unique needs of the clients, provide accessible health care and offer HIV testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
While in Panama, Mr Sidibé also met with representatives of civil society, applauding their role in advocating for the adoption of a legal framework for the HIV response.
Quotes
“I am convinced that Lorena Castillo de Varela is the right person to lead our advocacy in Latin America because of her commitment to social justice and her passion and compassion to reach those who are left behind.”
Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director
“This is an opportunity and a great responsibility to serve our region, Latin America, in the urgent task of inspiring our leaders and citizens to strengthen the integration of strategies to promote a human rights based approach, dignity and non-discrimination to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”
Lorena Castillo de Varela, First Lady of Panama
“The achievement of the ambitious 90–90–90 treatment target requires the commitment of all. We need to take faster and more effective decisions to guarantee no one is left behind.”
