Luanda: The Vice-President of the Republic, Esperan§a da Costa, stated on Monday that Angola is making consistent efforts to broaden access to antiretroviral drugs. Speaking to the press after visiting the National Institute for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, she emphasized the country's commitment to treatment, early diagnosis of children with HIV/AIDS, and the provision of viral load testing.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the Vice-President acknowledged challenges in accessing services, particularly for children who are not receiving treatment due to various reasons. Treatment coverage for adults is approximately 51 percent, a figure she believes needs improvement. She highlighted difficulties linked to social determinants that prevent many individuals with HIV/AIDS from visiting health centers to collect necessary treatment.

Esperan§a da Costa expressed concern over stigma and segregation in communities, advocating for a joint effort to overcome these issues. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about non-discrimination and reiterated the Executive's commitment to eliminating social barriers, harmful cultural practices, and economic constraints that hinder progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Vice-President also reaffirmed her intention to mobilize additional domestic funding to address the needs in the fight against AIDS. She stressed the importance of seeking other domestic sources to improve funding and ensure greater availability of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.

Furthermore, Esperan§a da Costa urged society, particularly young people, to adopt responsible behaviors to help curb the spread of the epidemic in communities and families. She emphasized that societal involvement is crucial, as the disease requires both individual and collective responsibility, with attention to living conditions, risks, threats, and behavioral vulnerability.

The Executive, she added, will continue its commitment to a multisectoral approach to HIV/AIDS. This involves collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Education in sexual and reproductive education, as well as the Ministry of Finance, to make more resources available for better results in combating the epidemic.