At the 2024 International AIDS Conference, WHO has released a technical brief titled Ensuring quality health care by reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination. This technical brief is designed to assist health facility managers in providing quality, stigma-free services, reinforcing the principle that every individual has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers to accessing HIV-related care. These barriers particularly affect key populations, hindering the uptake of and access to health services along the HIV services continuum.
There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that effective interventions in the health sector can mitigate these issues by focusing on actionable drivers and facilitators of health-related stigma and its manifestations..
To ensure that people living with or affected by HIV can access and stay engaged in care, it is critical that health care workers have the skills to deliver quality stigma-free health services," said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes. WHO's technical brief emphasizes the necessity of integrating measures to improve the quality of health care and reduce stigma, ensuring everyone can access the services they need without fear of discrimination."
The technical brief consolidates existing knowledge, outlines priority areas, describes key actions, and provides country examples to achieve quality, stigma-free health services. While the brief is primarily focused on the health facility level, it is also applicable to community service delivery models.
