Porto Alegre Charter proposes an alliance to confront the spread of HIV in Rio Grande do Sul.

The movement will be launched during InfectoTchê and brings together civil society, managers, and medical entities around evidence-based strategies.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul is experiencing a situation that demands coordination and a focused response to the fight against HIV. With indicators above the national average, including high mortality rates and a concentration of cases in the Metropolitan Region, the state is mobilizing different sectors of the health system to create the Porto Alegre Charter: Rio Grande do Sul Alliance for Confronting HIV.

The initiative, led by the Rio Grande do Sul Society of Infectology (SGI) and supported by the Rio Grande do Sul Medical Association (AMRIGS), aims to bring together civil society organizations, municipal health departments, and medical societies in a joint commitment focused on expanding access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Among the data reinforcing the urgency of the issue, recent studies published by JAMA Network indicate that up to 1 in 18 young people between 18 and 25 years old in Porto Alegre are living with HIV, highlighting the increased risk in this age group and the need for more effective strategies.

The Charter's proposal is structured around two main fronts: expanding universal and regular testing, with early diagnosis and immediate initiation of treatment, and expanding combined prevention, including access to oral PrEP and long-acting injectable PrEP. Scientific evidence demonstrates that these measures are capable of significantly reducing transmission and improving clinical outcomes.

The official launch of the Porto Alegre Charter will take place on May 23rd at 10:30 AM, during InfectoTchê, which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Porto Alegre, one of the main scientific meetings in the field in the Southern region.

The initiative presents itself as an open and collaborative movement, aiming to place people at the center of the HIV response, promoting equity in access, continuous care, and integration among different actors in public and private health.

Written by: Marcelo Matusiak