Zimbabweans living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have joined the call for health equity as the world commemorates World AIDS Day under the theme “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!”. This year’s focus emphasizes the need for a rights-based approach to healthcare, championed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, to address inequalities in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Speaking during the commemorations, the Zimbabwe NCDs Action Network underscored the urgent need to integrate HIV and NCD healthcare services. The organization highlighted that people living with HIV (PLHIV) are increasingly exposed to NCDs, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers, due to aging and side effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This dual burden necessitates inclusive healthcare systems that cater to HIV, NCDs, mental health, and neurological conditions.
Health Equity as a Right
“Everyone, everywhere, has the right to quality healthcare services,” the network emphasized. It called on global leaders to ensure that HIV, NCD, and mental health prevention, treatment, and care services are universally accessible without discrimination.
Stigma and discrimination were identified as critical barriers, disproportionately affecting individuals with concurrent HIV and NCD diagnoses. The organization argued that addressing stigma in silos, without an integrated approach, undermines progress towards achieving universal healthcare and protecting human rights.
Double Burden of Stigma
People with both HIV and NCDs face a “double burden” of stigma, further compounded by disabilities that may arise as a consequence of these conditions. Activists warned that without deliberate efforts to integrate healthcare services, the gains made in the fight against AIDS could be reversed, as PLHIV succumb to untreated NCDs.
“The current scenario of choosing who lives or dies based on the affordability of healthcare is inhumane and a denial of the fundamental right to health,” a spokesperson from the Zimbabwe NCDs Action Network stated. They called for universal health coverage to ensure equitable access to medical services for all.
Silent Pandemic of NCDs
The organization described the sidelining of NCDs as a “silent pandemic” that threatens to undo progress in HIV care. While ART has allowed PLHIV to live longer, healthier lives, the lack of affordable care for NCDs poses a new challenge.
“Rights of PLHIV are better respected due to subsidized ART provided by governments and donors. Yet, people living with NCDs often pay with their lives because they cannot afford the care they need,” the network added.
Integrated Healthcare as a Solution
Experts and advocates emphasized the need for a holistic approach to healthcare. Early diagnosis, adherence to treatment, and integrated healthcare services were highlighted as critical to protecting the health of those living with both HIV and NCDs. The network called for governments and multilateral organizations to prioritize funding for NCD care, alongside HIV programs.
As the world marches towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, people living with NCDs are urging leaders to take the “rights path” by ensuring that health equity includes them. Their message is clear: universal health coverage for all conditions is the only way to achieve true inclusivity and justice in healthcare.
