In 2025, Oaxaca ranks ninth nationally in HIV cases, with over 13,000 people living with the virus—a troubling statistic that underscores deep health disparities across the state. According to Itayetzin Medina Hernández, director of the State Council for the Prevention and Control of AIDS (Coesida), indigenous communities and women—particularly young and married women—are among the most vulnerable populations.
The regions most affected include Valles Centrales, the Istmo de Tehuantepec, and the Costa, where limited access to healthcare, cultural stigma, and language barriers hinder early diagnosis and treatment. Coesida reports that many women discover their HIV status late in pregnancy, prompting emergency prophylactic treatments for newborns. In just one week this August, three pregnant women tested positive, and a three-year-old girl was reported in critical condition due to vertical transmission.
To combat the crisis, Coesida launched the campaign Sin funda no hay rumba in partnership with the SecretarĂa de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca (Seculta). Held on August 29–30, the initiative combined cultural outreach with public health services, offering free rapid HIV testing at over 30 museums and art spaces across Oaxaca City and the Istmo region.
The campaign also featured educational modules, condom distribution, and artwork by the late Francisco Toledo, a longtime advocate for HIV awareness. Organizers emphasized the need to dismantle stigma and expand access to testing and treatment, especially in indigenous communities where silence and discrimination often prevail.
As Coesida continues its outreach, the message is clear: HIV is not just a medical issue—it’s a social justice challenge that demands inclusive, culturally sensitive solutions.
Source: OEM
