UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (UPI) -- U.N. agencies are calling on governments everywhere to include refugees in their national HIV/AIDS policies and program.
They want the refugees to be given the same access to treatment as their own citizens.
The call came following a newly released four-page policy brief focusing specifically on actions needed to address the spread and effect of HIV on refugees and their host communities.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS in the briefing paper also urged civil society to tackle popular misconceptions about refugees and the spread of the disease.
"Far too often refugees face an untenable situation," it said. "They are no longer guaranteed the protection of their country of origin and do not receive assistance from host countries."
The brief said refugees suffer the stigma of both their status as refugees and the common misconception that HIV prevalence is higher among them than in host communities. "Stigma and discrimination need to be tackled as an integral part of responding effectively to HIV among refugees and host communities," it said.
"We advocate for refugees to access HIV services in the same manner as that of the local population," said Paul Spiegel, UNHCR-HIV/AIDS unit head. He added some southern African countries already provide both refugees and the host population free antiretroviral drugs using government services.
