ARGENTINA

Health and access to medication

Other significant situations involve complaints from people living with chronic illnesses who have difficulty accessing medication. “Starting today in the province of Buenos Aires, a mobile unit from the Ministry of Women, Gender Policies and Diversity is distributing medication and prescriptions to those who urgently need them and cannot leave their homes,” Daniela Castro told Presentes.

With some municipalities closing their borders and police forces in charge of controlling movement, a complex situation has arisen. “The security forces include sectors that have historically discriminated against LGBT+ people, and it is sometimes difficult to get them to allow movement, for example, for transvestites and trans people who need to go to a health center or pharmacy,” says Castro. 

The Ministry of Health, in line with international organizations, reported that HIV-positive individuals with a healthy CD4 count (above 350 cells/mm³) and an undetectable and controlled viral load are no more at risk from the coronavirus than a person who is HIV-negative. If they require leave, they can take it without compromising the confidentiality of their diagnosis. This is specified in Article 7 of Resolution 627/2020, , regarding isolation measures.

If you need medication, the Ministry's AIDS Department provides phone numbers where you can find out how to proceed . If you need to travel, it is recommended that you carry documentation proving you are going to pick up medication and print (or write by hand) the following document.

CHILI

Access to health

Health consultations for transgender people and hormone therapy for those receiving care in the public system are also at risk . Presentes received a complaint from a user of the transgender clinic at Sótero del Río Hospital, located in one of Santiago's most populous neighborhoods, warning of the suspension of services. A notice posted on a bulletin board in the so-called "Rainbow Office" reads: "Due to the current situation, services are suspended and appointments will be rescheduled."

Presentes contacted Cinthia Aránguiz, coordinator of the Gender Identity Program at this hospital, but received no response by the time of publication.

For Franco Fuica, head of legislation and public policy at Organizing Trans Diversities (OTD), the spread of COVID-19 could replicate this situation in other hospitals across the country. “They are already prioritizing clinical cases, as is to be expected. But this will affect trans people in terms of surgeries, hormone therapy, medical tests, and psychological care. We don't know exactly how this will play out, but we believe it will be suspended until further notice,” he told Presentes.

On Tuesday, the health minister announced a ban on all elective surgeries "that do not pose a risk" to patients' health, in both the public and private sectors.

People living with HIV

In Chile, there are approximately 71,000 people living with HIV, according to the latest report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This figure has increased by 82% since 2010, making Chile the country with the largest increase in new HIV infections in Latin America between 2010 and 2018.

Until yesterday, the supply of medication for this population group was proceeding normally, but organizations fear that complications will soon arise, at least in hospitals, because they are not providing treatment for several months . If the government yields to pressure and decides to decree a total quarantine, as other countries have already done, the situation could worsen, since there would be no possibility of accessing health centers unless the authorities have a plan in place for this eventuality.

The Ministry of Health's National HIV/AIDS and STI Program has not yet issued a statement. Meanwhile, the Chilean Nurses Association is sharing advice on its social media channels to help people living with HIV reduce their risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

https://twitter.com/colegioenfermer/status/1241005072861007872

The Chilean Society of Infectious Diseases has prepared a guide with information and recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19 in people living with HIV.

And amid the crisis, the Lesbian Group Breaking the Silence also activated its channels to receive reports of cases affecting the LGBTI community. 

https://twitter.com/AgrupalesbicaRS/status/1241093725968830464

PERU

People living with HIV

project coordinator for the organization Jóvenes cambiando VIHdas ), pointed out that people with HIV were indeed receiving the corresponding medication and, due to the health emergency, the Ministry of Health had arranged for them to receive it for a minimum of three months, so that they would not be exposed by leaving home every month.

So far, only in the city of Huancayo, has one person with HIV complained of not receiving their medication for a week due to shortages, and that when they went to request it, the healthcare staff mistreated them. After the complaint became public, they received all their medication yesterday.

PARAGUAY

People living with HIV 

The Vencer Foundation, which advocates for the rights of people with STIs, in conjunction with the WHO and the British HIV Association, stated that there is currently no evidence that people with HIV are at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. The recommendations for the care and prevention of COVID-19 are the same as those for the general population, although they emphasize the fundamental importance of antiretroviral treatment to strengthen the immune system.

In Paraguay, it is estimated that 21,000 people live with HIV, of whom 18,000 have a positive diagnosis, but only 10,000 are linked to the health service (regularly attend consultations and pick up medications). 

Currently, there is no shortage of medications; they are available and free. However, many people cannot access them due to other factors: discrimination by healthcare personnel and limitations in mobility (distance, transportation, cost).

MEXICO

People living with HIV 

People living with HIV are concerned about the potential reduction in healthcare professionals and the closure of medical facilities and services caused by the virus, which could exacerbate the uncertainty surrounding the medication shortages they have been experiencing for months. The Condesa Clinic , a leading healthcare center for people living with HIV, announced that it will temporarily suspend all appointments at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) for viral load and CD4 count tests. The dispensing of medications through pharmacies will not be affected.

All the LGBT+ groups and activists mentioned are calling for people to pay attention to their posts and are asking for solidarity in this adverse context.

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