On January 27 2021, ITPC, Salamander Trust and Making Waves held a webinar to talk about the findings of community-led research on the impact of Covid-19 on women and girls living with and affected by HIV, including the impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Four of the researchers, Joyce Ouma (Kenya), Jacquelyne Alesi (Uganda), Nunu Diana Alison (South Sudan) and Martha Tholanah (Zimbabwe) presented the work, the findings and the key messages. Webinar participants included some of the women who were part of the research, who contributed important insights through the webinar chat and discussion sessions, as well as other participants from networks of women living with HIV, civil society organisations and others – from East and Southern Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and elsewhere.

The discussion, facilitated by Solange Baptiste, Executive Director, ITPC and Wame Jallow of Global Programs and Advocacy Director, ITPC, got right into the detail of what needs to be done, and how UNAIDS and WHO can support and promote action to meet the priorities and needs of women and girls living with HIV.

They were joined by respondents from UNAIDS and WHO: Mr Aeneas Chuma (Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa, Cynthia Lungu (Senior Gender Advisor, UNAIDS East and Southern Africa), Chris Mallouris (Community Mobilisation Adviser at UNAIDS), Dr Meg Doherty (Coordinator of Treatment and Care in WHO’s Department of HIV/AIDS) and Andy Seale (Advisor at WHO).

Watch the full webinar below:

View the full transcript here. 

This webinar discussed the results from the Salamander Trust and ITPC (2020) advocacy brief Confined by COVID-19: women and girls, HIV and SRHR and is also associated with similar research out of Nepal, Brazil and Malaysia.