Relegated to the background by the Covid-19 pandemic, HIV remains a health emergency in Morocco. Young people and women, who are particularly exposed, embody the flaws of prevention that is still insufficient.
HIV remains a worrying reality in Morocco. Despite scientific advances and awareness campaigns, the epidemic continues to affect different segments of the population. Indeed, according to statistics from the Association for the Fight against AIDS (ALCS), nearly 45% of new infections concerned young people aged 15 to 34 in 2023.
This age group, supposedly better informed, paradoxically remains vulnerable. This figure highlights a gap in sex education and access to prevention services. Barely 17% of young people say they systematically use a condom, an alarming rate which reflects insufficient awareness and difficult access to means of protection, particularly in rural areas. The normalization of risky behavior also appears to be fueled by a persistent taboo around sexuality.
Health emergency
In 2023, 970 people were newly infected, or more than two per day. This daily progression is reminiscent of the health emergency, while 390 HIV-related deaths were recorded over the same period. The fight against HIV is all the more complex as nearly one in four people living with the virus are unaware of their serological status.
This delay in testing fuels the silent spread of the virus, complicating control efforts. The ALCS figures also reveal a worrying reality: among the 23,000 people living with HIV in Morocco, 43% are women, and 870 are under 15 years old.
This feminization and this youth challenge. They question not only the effectiveness of public policies, but also their capacity to target the most vulnerable populations. Young girls and children, often victims of discrimination, suffer from a glaring lack of specific measures. These data highlight the need for a holistic approach, integrating prevention, medical care and psychological support. The funding crunch adds considerable pressure. If the 50,000 screening tests carried out in 2023, of which 720 were positive, reflect a constant effort, they remain insufficient given the scale of the challenge.
Dependence on donations weakens a response which, although supported by the ALCS and its 23 anonymous and free screening centers, struggles to meet growing needs. The 10th edition of Sidaction Maroc, organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aims to fill these gaps. This event, which will take place from December 1 to 31, aims to sustain screening, care and awareness programs.
In this context, the television evening of December 13, which will be broadcast on the 2M TV channel, with the participation of experts and committed personalities, is part of a broader awareness dynamic. In this sense, it will attempt to mobilize public opinion that is sometimes indifferent to the persistence of this epidemic. But the effectiveness of these initiatives will also depend on their integration into a coherent national strategy, which recognizes HIV as a priority public health issue. Financial challenges are accompanied by equally crucial societal issues. If Morocco has a dynamic associative fabric, the sustainability of these efforts relies on collective awareness.
Fight against AIDS: UNESCO calls for a start against inequalities
The message published by UNESCO on the occasion of World AIDS Day sets the ambitious goal of eradicating the threat of HIV by 2030. A vision hampered by persistent obstacles, as evidenced by official statistics which report an infected person every 25 seconds, while more than 9 million carriers of the virus still do not have access to medical treatment.
UNESCO also highlights discriminatory laws and practices which, by stigmatizing the most vulnerable – women, young girls and minorities – worsen exclusion and slow down access to care. The UN organization calls for refocusing the fight against AIDS on human rights, an essential condition to guarantee equitable access to health services.
Sami Nemli / ECO Inspirations
