LATIN AMERICA

Proposals to improve homosexuals health

07-14-2009 | STAFF

mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. Health experts of several countries will meet from July 14 to 16 to propose programs to improve the health of homosexuals in Latin America.

Approximately 40 participants are expected to attend the meeting including government officials, civil society representatives, advisors of the United Nations system and experts in various technical fields as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, sexual health, mental health, health services and human rights.

The consultation is expected to produce a plan of action to scale up health promotion and prevention program for homosexual men with a focus on their most urgent needs.

Available data has show that men who have sex with men are disproportionally affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Other frequent health concerns are mental health issues, drug and alcohol use, in addition to chronic stress, anxiety and depression as a result of hostility, stigma and discrimination.

Panama and Nicaragua were the last two countries in Latin America that decriminalized sex between men in 2008, after a long debate.

The Consultation is part of a series of regional meetings, the first of which took place in Slovenia in May 2008.