Algeria– On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) partnered with UNAIDS and two Algerian local civil society organizations to carry out awareness-raising sessions on HIV/AIDS prevention for migrants hosted at the IOM-run transit centers DARV (Dispositifs d’Accueil pour le Retour Volontaire) in Algiers.

During these sessions, which were held on 2 December 2020, participants (9 women and 33 men) were exposed to HIV/AIDS modes of transmission and prevention measures and more broadly to the sexually transmitted infections, in particular debunk myths and misconceptions on the use of condoms.

“We need to focus on people in order to put the AIDS response back on track for success,” said Adel Zeddam, UNAIDS Country Representative in Algeria. “We must end social injustices that put migrants at risk of HIV infection and fight for the right to health. Only global solidarity and shared responsibility can help us to end the AIDS epidemic and ensure the universal right to health for all.”

On the side of the event, migrants were given the possibility to be tested for HIV in full confidentiality. All COVID-19 preventative measures were in place during the event (masks, sanitizers, physical distancing) to guarantee a safe attendance for all.

IOM Algeria Chief of Mission Paolo Caputo said: “This event marks the beginning of a long-lasting partnership. When UN agencies work side by side with civil society organizations, the impact of our action is amplified and sustained.

Migrants hosted at the transit centers DARV in Algiers are waiting for Assisted Voluntary Return to their countries of origin. Awareness-raising sessions can effectively inform and debunk myths, and at the same time facilitate mutual understanding and break the feeling of isolation and prolonged waiting times due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Migrants participated in the event with great enthusiasm: “It has been a good event,” said Abdul, a Sierra Leonean man. “I learnt how to protect myself from HIV/AIDS, and most importantly I learnt that even if you have HIV, your life can go on, we have to follow the prevention measures and use condoms to protect others,” he added.

While Algeria has a sustained low-level epidemic (the prevalence in the general population in Algeria is lower than 0.1%), the rates are higher among migrants and mobile populations, according to the National Plan for the Fight against STIs/HIV/AIDS 2020-2024 issued by the Algerian Ministry of Health, Hospitals and Population Reform. This may be due to the limited availability of targeted information on national prevention programmes, or possible misconceptions and fears on the side of the migrants.

The HIV/AIDS awareness raising sessions were carried out in partnership with El Hayet and Stop AIDS civil society organizations and implemented as part of the pre-departure training activities of the “Enhancing Migrant Community Stabilisation and Cohesion in Egypt, Morocco and Algeria and Countries of Return” project, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, with the joint support of the United States Department of State.
 

For more information please contact Elena Imberti at IOM Algeria, Email: eimberti@iom.int, Tel. +213 561 52 40 01 and Ghazi Mabrouk at the IOM Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, Email: gmabrouk@iom.int, Tel: +201011478084