The Tunisian Association for Positive Prevention (ATP+) has just launched a broad campaign to raise awareness and fight against HIV/AIDS, HIV, HCV and Syphilis. Information, prevention and screening actions have taken place, particularly on the theme of the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child (TME).
Thanks to the support of its various partners, in particular the National Program for the Fight against HIV (PNLS), the National Coordination Mechanism (CCM-Tunisia), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (FM), Frontline AIDS, Coalition Plus MENA and regional and international networks including ITPC Mena and the regional platform relating to the Global Fund and civil society, ATP+ is currently setting up a whole awareness and advocacy program.
According to Ms. Souhaila Bensaid, president of the ATP+ association, “Our objective is to communicate even more on the problems experienced by the populations, on the obstacles in the care of these populations as well as on their social and economic rights, including including the right of access to health in order to improve the response to HIV-AIDS in Tunisia. And to add “One of the major obstacles in our fight relates to the accessibility of information on HIV/AIDS and on sexual and reproductive health, in addition to access to various care and support services. Medical information on the state of health of many people living with HIV or lost to follow-up remains poorly accessible, due to several forms of stigma and discrimination. Information on prevention, screening and the services available for the health and social care of HIV-AIDS also remains very little available or in marked decline, especially following the COVID-19 crisis”.
A national workshop with the Tunisian media
ATP+ started its communication and awareness-raising campaign by organizing a national training workshop for journalists, which took place in Hammamet, from November 11 to 13, 2022, under the title “Let’s inform, let’s fight back, let’s stop HIV/AIDS”.
About fifteen journalists representing several media as well as influencers from social networks and the art world took part in this training workshop. For the ATP+ association, this periodic collaboration with the various and local media helps to increase the visibility of actions and the dissemination of key messages in order to ensure strong prevention and awareness of the rights and aspirations of people living with HIV. /AIDS in Tunisia. Rules of good conduct (ethical, practical or public communication) were debated in order to improve any media coverage.
ATP+ organizes screening week
From November 22 to 28, 2022, the ATP+ carried out a whole arsenal of actions as part of the international HIV, HCV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) screening week. A campaign entitled “GET TESTED” was launched in Greater Tunis and Monastir to encourage the importance of HIV prevention and individual screening among women and young girls, or among those who are in a situation risk of transmission.
Awareness of MTCT prevention
As part of World HIV/AIDS Day, December 1, 2022, ATP+ also orchestrated an awareness campaign on the theme of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. An action plan from the regional grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (FM) and with the financial support of FRONTLINE AIDS has been implemented.
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is a mode of transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her child, during or after childbirth. In Africa, given its frequency, this transmission is considered the second threatening mode or the main mode of HIV transmission for children under 15 years of age.
ATP+ focuses its interventions on the means of Prevention of Mother-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and on the importance of conveying key messages that help to understand this approach and assert the rights of women and children. Prevention of MTCT includes all actions to reduce or prevent this transmission. Prevention and information work is necessary to sensitize the general public, but also the medical and paramedical professions and all those involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Montassar Ben Souissi