An investment case: the role of advocacy in addressing discrimination of vulnerable and marginalized populations at risk for HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa

In South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) was founded by people living with HIV (PLHIV) activists in 1998 to fight for access to HIV treatment, which at the time was not available in the public health system used by the majority of those in need. Among its notable early successes, in 2001, was a lawsuit against the health ministry that forced the government to expand access to nevirapine for HIV-positive pregnant women to reduce HIV transmission risk to their infants [ 3]. Based on long-term analysis of civic advocacy and its impacts in different contexts, this shows that investing in advocacy leads to longer-term financial and programming efficiencies in HIV responses, including by reducing the need for costly health care for people denied access to treatment, unable to obtain necessary prevention services, or experiencing sexual and physical violence that is unchecked in part because of criminalization of victim’s behaviour [ 10].