KEY population (KPs) remain a target of violence and stigma and discrimination in communities they live and work in despite numerous awareness campaigns that have been held to raise awareness against discrimination of the groups.
By Patricia Mashiri
The discrimination and stigma has extended in such a way that the communities struggle to access public health services which a basic right for every Zimbabwean citizen regardless of identity, profession color or creed.
Speaking during a 2 day Journalist HIV/AIDS workshop by the National AIDS Council (NAC), the NAC Community, Key Populations Technical Coordinator at National AIDS Council, Mr Ricardo Bako said Globally, key populations (KPs) and their sexual partners contribute 62% of new adult HIV infections hence the need to remove structural barriers to access HIV services.
The UNAIDS 2021-2025 strategy calls for bold action to “put people at the centre to prevail against pandemics” and ensuring a human rights-based approach to development- leaving no one behind, creating an enabling legal and policy environment to catalyse an effective AIDS response and addressing violence and gender inequality.
“KPs have a higher risk of contracting HIV than the general population. Female sex workers have 21 times at higher risk, people who inject drugs 22 times higher, gay men who have sex with other men 22% and transgender women 12 times higher,” Mr Bako said.
Mr Bako said Key populations were at heightened risks and cannot access services due to stigma and discrimination, state and non-state violence and harassment, restrictive laws and policies and criminalization of behaviors.
Meanwhile, Gumisayi Bhonzo, Director Trans Smart Trust said key populations are just humans and should be treated like everyone else.
“Sometimes I receive calls from different people and I try to explain better to them that key populations are the same with general population. They need jobs, money and health services like we all do.
“We continue to make concerted efforts to ensure that the key population lives are improved through capacity building, and promotion of rights. We will continue to gather strength and courage in speaking out against the unjust discrimination,” Bhonzo said.
