World AIDS Day: Tunisian Society of Clinical Biology Highlights Role of Stakeholders in Fighting HIV/AIDS
On the occasion of World AIDS Day (December 1st), the Tunisian Society of Clinical Biology (STBC) organized an event to shed light on the role of various stakeholders engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as the current challenges and prospects for the fight in Tunisia.
According to a statement from the STBC, the event brought together representatives from public health structures under the Ministry of Health, medical biologists, infectious disease specialists, professional associations, and civil society organizations working in this field.
The recommendations from the event focused particularly on the need to improve diagnosis by adopting the most modern scientific methods and introducing new algorithms for HIV screening. "Indeed, better screening allows for early treatment and reduces the risk of transmission," emphasizes the STBC.
Participants also stressed the importance of continuously improving therapeutic care and prevention, knowing that treatment is fully covered by the national program.
The speakers reminded that HIV screening is anonymous and free in specialized centers and with associations involved in prevention and support for people living with the virus, highlighting the importance of using condoms.
The participants also welcomed the publication, in 2025, of a circular prohibiting the mention "HIV+" on samples or files of people living with the virus in health establishments. This is an essential measure aimed at protecting the dignity and confidentiality of patients, reducing stigma and discrimination, and constituting a significant advance in terms of respect for human rights in the field of health.
The event was organized in partnership with the microbiology laboratory of Sousse's Sahloul Hospital, the Directorate of Basic Health Care, the National HIV/AIDS Control Program, the medical biology laboratory unit of the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and the UNDP.
