Senegal’s Anti-LGBTQ Crackdown Drives HIV Patients Away from Clinics

Health officials in Senegal warn that many HIV patients are now avoiding antiretroviral treatment centres. They say fear of arrest under the new anti-LGBTQ laws is putting efforts to control HIV at serious risk. In March, lawmakers increased the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to 10 years and raised fines to 10 million CFA francs. Rights groups report at least 86 arrests since early February, including 18 people in a recent raid in Linguere. Data from the National Council for the Fight against AIDS show a 25.6 percent drop in clinic visits between January and February. Former health minister Dr Safiatou Thiam warns that naming suspects and revealing their HIV status in the media fuels stigma and discourages patients from seeking care. Community workers report that outreach efforts have been hampered as both patients and some health staff go into hiding. Observers fear treatment interruptions could lead to more HIV-related deaths and new infections.

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