Frederico Duarte, from the Infectious Diseases Department of ULS Matosinhos, participated as a regional discussant representing Europe in a global plenary session on HIV treatment, held on November 9th. He was joined by specialists from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In his intervention, Duarte addressed the relationship between migration and access to healthcare, conveying a clear message: "Migration is not the problem; the delay in accessing care is." He argued that anyone living with HIV arriving in Europe should be rapidly linked to treatment, and that seronegative individuals interested in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) should have the same swift access.
“"I argued that anyone living with HIV who arrives in Europe should be rapidly linked to treatment, and that those who are seronegative and are interested in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) should have the same rapid access"
He emphasized that ensuring timely access to healthcare is fundamental to "care for each person, prevent new infections, and protect the community." This participation in a leading international congress also served to showcase the daily work of ULS Matosinhos, "a person-centered clinical practice that optimizes care and also protects the surrounding community".
