Government data reviewed by Reuters shows visits to 22 HIV treatment centers fell from 2,425 in January to 1,803 in February — a over twenty-five percent drop. Officials say fear of arrest and harassment is keeping patients away from life-saving antiretroviral drugs, which treat and suppress HIV. The decline follows new legislation introduced last month that doubles prison terms for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and increases fines to about $18k. Since early February, at least 86 people have been arrested, including 18 in a single April 19 raid in Linguere (leen-GEH-ruh).
According to the National Council for the Fight Against AIDS or CNLS, follow-up interviews found men who have sex with men were avoiding clinics out of fear of being identified, arrested, or abused. Dr. Safiatou Thiam (Sah-fee-ah-TOO Tee-AHM), a former health minister and executive director of the National Council for the Fight Against AIDS, warned “We certainly fear, and this has been confirmed, that this wave of arrests will have repercussions for our work.” The impact could be significant. UNAIDS reports new HIV infections in Senegal have risen 36 percent between 2010 and 2024.
Health experts warn that treatment interruptions increase transmission risk. The World Health Organization has urged countries to remove punitive laws and reduce stigma, cautioning that such policies can fuel HIV outbreaks.
