Now, more than any other time in human existence we must focus on the health and well-being of Adolescent girls and Young Women (AGYW).
AGYW constitute the world’s biggest population group and continue to disproportionately be affected by HIV in comparison to other populations. Adolescent girls and young women in the African region where I am from continue to face a complex web of factors that undermine our health, and make us more vulnerable to HIV including a lack of availability of contraceptives, complications in pregnancy and child birth, TB, internal displacement as a result of conflicts and natural disasters, mental health and violence. These are further exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, with greater disproportionate impacts affecting those living with HIV who have faced disruption in treatment programs and higher rates of job losses.
This has increased the burden of domestic and care work because of reduced financial independence, and this further exposes the AGYW to other negative impacts on their health and well-being due to constant exposure to gender based violence perpetrated by their partners. The toxic cycle continues as an increase in Gender-Based violence leads to increased teen pregnancies with increased chances of C- section for AGYW who have contracted COVID 19 and maternal deaths.
It is critical for all stakeholders in the global HIV response to understand that ending HIV/AIDS by 2030 requires continued attention to the health and dignity of those living with HIV, and a continual monitoring and evaluation as well as scale up of comprehensive, holistic and integrated HIV prevention programs without letting new pandemics affect the flow of service provision.
Stakeholders should ensure they continue to partner with and support Community Based Organizations, including Adolescent girls and young women.
We need the information, tools, and investment in OUR HEALTH, OUR RIGHTS, OUR AGENCY, and OUR FUTURE.
We seek to be a part of the decision-making process and to strengthen as well as expand beyond condom promotion and provision in efforts to ensure that AGYW have safe sex and access to HIV counseling.
Testing and linkages to care, PrEP administration to AGYW at high risk of contracting HIV with special focus to the sex workers, Violence Against Women as well as supporting availability of post violence care are all essential tools and must be made priorities. We must keep pushing for the integration of Comprehensive Sex Education in school curriculums in an effort to end HIV stigma and discrimination among AGYW.
It is necessary for effective and efficient strategies to be put up in place that focus on prioritizing AGYW health and well-being, especially for those living with HIV amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be done within a framework that pays attention to investment in gender equality, human rights, community leadership and the service delivery model. The delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine should aim to address the issue of limited supply to the AGYW who have the greatest risk of contracting COVID-19. This should be done through a tailored response of identifying and reaching out to high-risk populations.
AGYW who are community health workers are extremely important and must be compensated fairly as they continue to lead in the mobilization of other AGYW in the vaccination process.
Systems need to be put in place to address the misinformation on reducing HIV and COVID-19 stigma and discrimination. We must eliminate the COVID-19 misconceptions with a tailored communication strategy which focuses on an understanding of community structures for vaccine communication and distribution. It is important for health care providers and researchers to ensure timely trials in pregnant women and adolescent girls and young women as well as identification of underlying social determinants of infection, disease and vaccine acceptance.