There is a growing realisation that men and boys are underrepresented in HIV services while being overrepresented amongst AIDS deaths and key past of the new HIV infections, a cycle which needs to urgently be broken to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women. The global fast-track targets to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 will not be achieved unless men are better engaged in the response.
Changing 'business as usual' is therefore vital in order to reach men with HIV-related services while advancing gender transformative and responsive programmes, this is critical for men and boys health and for the sake of women, girls and health for all. If the HIV epidemic is to be successfully halted, urgent action is needed on two fronts. the first is challenging the harmful gender and social norms that discourage men from seeking health services such as violence and non-use of a condom that increases the likelihood of HIV transmission to women and girls.
Second is ensuring that health systems policies, programmes and service delivery adequately addresses the HIV related needs of men in all their diversity. all interventions need to be coupled with equality including women's and girls improvement and challenging structural patriarchal barriers.
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