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 make a huge contribution to the response to HIV and AIDS, particularly in their role as caregivers. 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 testing and treatment for older people and trained health workers that understand their specific needs.
- Increased recognition of 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 financial impact monitoring to be extended byond the age of 49.
- Recognition from UNAIDS that the AIDS epidemic is ageing and that research to understand the interaction between ageing and HIV is needed.
Examples of our impact so far:
- UNAIDS included older people in their 2009 to 2011 Outcome Framework. The document highlighted care and support as a fundamental element of social protection to be promoted and taken forward in UNAIDS work.
- 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.
- 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.