During the “HIV Vertical: Born and Raised with HIV” ceremony, organized jointly with the State Coordinator for HIV and AIDS (CESIDA), the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego, highlighted the progress made in preventing the vertical transmission of HIV in Spain and stressed the importance of moving forward in the fight against administrative barriers to access to health care. As CESIDA reports, this event aimed to highlight the need to listen to the testimony of those who grew up with HIV, highlight the urgency of prevention throughout the year and make eliminating stigma an institutional priority.
CESIDA media detailed that Rego called for continuity in the fight to eliminate social stigma surrounding HIV and called for “more flexible and less bureaucratic” medical processes. He stressed that health is a fundamental right and that it is up to the state to ensure this right without delays and obstacles. In her speech, the minister said: “When we talk about HIV, we talk about citizenship, we talk about equality, we talk about rights, and we don’t have to do that just on December 1st. We are absolutely convinced of that and we are absolutely committed. We have to talk all year round, every day we have to help overcome stigmatization.”
According to CESIDA, Rego has estimated the decline in vertical HIV transmission in Spain from more than 26% in the early 1990s to about 0.7% today. The minister attributed this progress to the strength and quality of public health services and acknowledged the work of social movements that have been fighting for universal access to treatment and putting health on the public agenda for decades. He added that discrimination remains “a form of violence that disrupts lives, creates silence and prevents many people from accessing resources or support networks.”
As published by CESIDA, the organization’s Secretary General, Oliver Marcos, emphasized that the holding of the event outside December 1, World HIV Day, is based on the intention of remembering the importance of focusing attention on HIV and defending the rights of those living with the virus 365 days a year. Marcos asserted, “We cannot ignore that HIV infection is not just a biomedical problem, but a social justice issue,” adding that HIV must be brought to the forefront of the media agenda beyond the annual day of commemoration. He explained that the group sometimes feels like it is only recognized on certain dates and asked that the speech remain active at all times.
The CESIDA media reported that this organization brings together 79 units throughout the country and carries out daily tasks aimed at defending the rights, providing comprehensive care to the population living with HIV, formulating prevention policies and promoting screening tests related to sexual health. Marcos emphasized the urgency of creating spaces for active listening and receiving for people living with HIV, stating that “their experiences are the best guide for political action.”
Marisa Navarro, pediatrician at Gregorio Marañón Hospital and member of the Study Group for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Spain (CORISPE), attended the event. Navarro noted the unique challenges for affected children and adolescents, noting that “growing up with HIV is complicated and requires specialized support.”
In addition, three people born with HIV shared their experiences during the day: Sara del Arco, activist and community health technician; Iván Garrido, psychologist and director of the Kintsugi Project; and Belén Romero García, social engineer with experience in the field of disability. According to CESIDA, these testimonies aimed to make visible the needs and rights of the group and to disseminate the experiences of those who grew up with the virus in Spain, thus offering perspectives that can enrich the design and implementation of public policies.
The development of the event and interventions highlighted the need for ongoing attention to access to treatment, primary prevention and the creation of safe and supportive spaces. Both institutional and civil society voices agree that removing administrative hurdles, raising social awareness and combating stigma remain outstanding tasks to ensure equal rights and well-being of people living with HIV, CESIDA said.
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