The Government Delegation in Melilla hosted a training workshop given by Médecins du Monde, focused on the “Importance of early diagnosis and follow-up to people living with HIV (PLHIV)”, within the framework of the project “Prevention of HIV/AIDS infection and other STIs in groups of special vulnerability – PNS”.
The Head of the Coordination Unit against Violence Against Women, Laura Segura, has been in charge of inaugurating this training day aimed at professionals from non-profit organizations working in the city. Segura has highlighted the key role of institutions in the fight against inequalities in sexual and reproductive health.
In her speech, the Head of the Unit recalled that, although historically HIV infection has affected mostly men, “women already represent more than one in four new infections in our country.” She has also stressed that there are biological and social factors that make women especially vulnerable.
“Gender inequalities continue to affect women’s ability to protect themselves. Many young people continue to face pressures to have early sex, with little ability to negotiate condom use or reject risky situations,” he said.
The head of the Unit also emphasized that gender violence is closely linked to HIV infection, both directly — through sexual violence — and indirectly, by the inability to negotiate safe sex in contexts of economic, emotional or social dependence.
The workshop was given by Silvia Madejón, from Doctors of the World, and addressed key contents such as the importance of early diagnosis of HIV, the impact of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the differences between types of HIV and diagnostic methods, and strategies to accompany PLHIV in contexts of special vulnerability.
The day had the active participation of several social entities of Melilla, with the common objective of advancing the eradication of HIV and STIs through training and awareness, from an intersectional approach and with a gender perspective.