Florianópolis Sees Success in HIV Prevention, But Stigma Remains a Barrier to diagnosis
Florianópolis, Brazil – December 4, 2024 – Florianópolis is celebrating significant progress in the fight against HIV, receiving both the Silver Seal for eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and the Bronze Seal for syphilis control. However, health officials are emphasizing that continued vigilance and addressing societal stigma are crucial to further reduce infection rates and ensure all residents have access to care.
The recognition, awarded this Wednesday (December 3rd), certifies the municipality has achieved excellent indicators in prenatal care, guaranteeing adequate treatment for pregnant women living with HIV or syphilis and preventing transmission to their babies. The seals are granted to cities with over 100,000 inhabitants meeting World Health Institution (WHO) criteria for near-elimination.
This local success mirrors a national trend: Brazil has seen a 13% drop in AIDS-related deaths between 2023 and 2024, with 9,100 deaths recorded in 2024 – the first time the number has fallen below 10,000 in three decades. New AIDS cases also decreased by 1.5%,from 37,500 to 36,900,according to a new epidemiological bulletin released by the Ministry of Health on Monday (December 1st).The country currently counts 68.4 thousand people living with HIV or AIDS, a stable number in recent years.
Despite these positive developments, officials warn that stigma, prejudice, and misinformation remain significant obstacles.”We managed to eliminate transmission to babies and our challenge is to continue moving forward to control the HIV epidemic. Currently,what keeps people away from diagnosing and treating the disease is stigma,prejudice and misinformation,” explained Ronaldo Zonta,family doctor and coordinator of the SMS Clinic Management Department.
Throughout december, as part of the national Red December campaign focused on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, care, and stigma reduction, several events are planned in Florianópolis. The AIDS Prevention Support Group (GAPA) will host “Cine Debate” screenings of the series ”oxygen masks will not fall off automatically” – depicting the early days of the AIDS epidemic – on the first three Thursdays of December (4th, 11th, and 18th) at 7pm at SapatecoBar (Rodovia Francisco Magno Vieira, 2832, Campeche). Each screening will be followed by discussions on treatment, stigma, prejudice, and care.
On December 8th at 7pm, Bugio Centro (Rua Victor Meirelles, East Center) will host a presentation of “Creating Bridges: Women, Art and Intersectionality in the Fight against HIV/AIDS” by Letícia de Assis, a researcher from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). The presentation will feature two short films inspired by her doctoral research on the experiences of women living with HIV/AIDS.
