Photo: Dalig Photography
Photo: Dalig Photography
Over seventy participants from a variety of backgrounds attended this event (community members, representatives from community organizations, clinicians, public health officials and decision-makers). The purpose of the community forum was to reach a consensus on priorities for action and concerns to communicate to decision-makers in order to reduce the HIV epidemic among gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM).
A consensus statement on the actions required to optimize access to health services for gbMSM communities in Montreal is a public declaration based on the discussions that took place at the forum that brings together the voices of community members and service providers. It is also a political statement that draws attention to an important turning point the history of HIV/AIDS: as societies, we have the means to end HIV/AIDS by 2030. The goal set by UNAIDS a few years ago – zero HIV transmission and zero AIDS-related deaths – has now become attainable.
Better access to services is a critical component of efforts to end the epidemic.
The Mobilise! project has brought together a coalition of stakeholders from medical, community, institutional, and academic sectors. Through the recommendations contained in this statement, the coalition is calling on public and political decision-makers to take concrete action to improve access to prevention and health services for men who have sex with men.