I refer to the article ‘HIV treatment in Malta archaic, activist warns’ (September 17).

With reference to the recently-launched LGBTIQ action plan 2018-2022, Mark Josef Rapa was reported saying that, while agreeing with what is being proposed, the inclusion of measures related to the better testing, prevention and treatment of HIV in an LGBTIQ action plan somehow automatically excludes other potential beneficiaries. These measures were proposed by ARC and MGRM during the last electoral campaign and were discussed at a public meeting held with party leaders in May 2017 and agreed to by all the major political parties.

The government’s LGBTIQ action plan 2018-2022 includes other measures that impact on other groups in society, such as measure 1.1, which makes reference to the new Equality Act and the setting up of the Human Rights and Equality Commission.

While the LGBTIQ action plan 2018-2022 includes measures that have an impact on LGBTIQ people, they are not, and were never intended to be, exclusionary. It is the Equality Ministry’s understanding that equality issues have a profound impact on the whole of society and contribute towards the promotion of diversity and respect of human rights across all grounds of discrimination.

The LGBTIQ action plan 2018-22, developed in consultation with LGBTIQ civil society, recognises that, in Malta, men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV transmission.

This in no way implies that enhanced testing, prevention and treatment measures should be applicable only to MSMs or that other potentially at risk groups should not also be targeted in any health promotion campaigns or new prevention and treatment regimes.

The measures included in the LGBTIQ action plan are a recognition of the right to access to the best possible healthcare while recognising competing claims to limited resources. Given that, as the correspondent also acknowledges, improved HIV testing, prevention and treatment effects other members of society, claiming that this is an attempt to garner the pink vote is somewhat contradictory and reflects more on his own reductionist thinking.

The current government’s track record on LGBTIQ equality speaks for itself.

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