IPSF PARO Resolution on the Role of Pharmacists in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management

IPSF PARO Resolution: The Role of Pharmacists in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management

The Role of Pharmacists In HIV/AIDS Prevention And Management The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) - Pan American Regional Office (PARO) and its member organisations, Recognise HIV/AIDS is a major public health issue as there are an estimated 3.7 million people who live with HIV in the Americas, Fully believe in the Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections 2016-2021 approved by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Stress that untreated and poorly managed HIV infections lead to further transmission and increased AIDS-related mortality, Profess alarm that coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV prophylaxis and treatment remain suboptimal, especially in Latin America (60%) and the Caribbean (63%), Highlight that HIV/AIDS in the Pan American region disproportionally affects men who have sex with men, transgender people, and female sex workers, Believe that the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS both on the community level and in health services hinder the detection and management of HIV infections, Express deep concern that inadequate ART coverage and social stigma could contribute to new cases of HIV infection and AIDS-related mortality, Draw attention to pharmacists’ close relationships with local communities and their ability and knowledge to provide effective education and counselling, Emphasise pharmacists’ expertise in medication and patient engagement, Reaffirm that pharmacists can play an important role in preventing HIV transmission and longterm management of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses, 1. Call on the development of pharmacist-driven community outreach to destigmatise HIV/AIDS, support HIV screening, and promote the prevention of HIV transmission: a. Promote HIV prevention tools on a local level, such as condom usage in sexually active persons and harm reduction strategies, such as the use of sterile needles and syringes in IV-drug users;

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b. Emphasise that HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy and through lactation, and the importance of screening and prophylaxis to avoid vertical transmission; c. Educate local community regarding signs and symptoms of HIV infection and promote screening, especially after high-risk behaviours; d. Encourage notification of HIV status to sex partners to aid early detection of HIV infection and prevent further transmission; e. Increase awareness of the “Window Period” of various HIV screening tools and the possibility of a “false negative” result after the initial infection; Advocate for the importance of pharmacist-driven counselling and patient engagement activities in ART selection and adherence; Recommend the creation of educational materials to support and educate pharmacists to combat HIV/AIDS: a. Create learning materials for safe sexual practices, available ART options for HIV treatment and prophylaxis, as well as management of opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS; Further recommend collaborating with the local government and legislators, nonprofit organisations, and pharmaceutical companies for campaigns to increase ART and PrEP access in the Pan American region; Convene international, national, and regional youth organisations to promote campaign and educational events to educate youth regarding HIV/AIDS causes, effects, and prevention; Support awareness and screening for common HIV/AIDS coinfections and comorbidities such as Hepatitis B, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Tuberculosis (TB), mental illnesses and substance use disorders; Endorse PAHO’s goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health problem in the Region of Americas by 2030 through an accelerated, focused, more effective, innovative and sustainable response.