In a historic day full of love, diversity and empathy, Socios En Salud (SES) was present at the Pride March 2023, which marched through the streets of Lima on Saturday, July 1.
Under the slogan “more health, less stigmas”, this year we set ourselves the goal of raising public awareness of the importance of achieving a health system free of discrimination and respectful of all diversities, where there is no place for stigmas based on gender expression, identity or orientation.
Once again this year, the SES float was one of the most celebrated during the Pride March, whose route began at the Campo de Marte and culminated with a live concert at the 28th of July Mall. Personalities such as La Langosta and Paco Flores, as well as a cast of tireless dancers, participated in our caravan to add joy and make our voice heard louder.
This is the second consecutive year of SES participating in the Pride March following the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Diego Diaz / PIH
We were also joined by Dr. Leonid Lecca (CEO of SES), Dr. Carole Mitnick (TB researcher at Partners In Health and Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University), as well as our Oscar Romero Medical Center (COR) family.
At Partners In Health we are united by our commitment to create safe and inclusive spaces with comprehensive and quality health for all people, that is why our work in favor of the LGTBIQ+ Community is not limited to one month and even less to one day.
Through an open mic sequence we asked LGTBIQ+ people how we can consolidate more inclusive health services. Photo by Diego Diaz / PIH
Through our JunTrans community intervention, between July 2022 and March 2023 we managed to screen more than 400 transgender women in Metropolitan Lima for timely and free detection of STIs, tuberculosis and mental health disorders, in a context where many of them do not have access to comprehensive health services.
Also, aware that gay men, bisexuals and transgender women are the main group at risk of contracting HIV and STIs in Peru, in 2022 we managed to get more than 8,000 people to access free HIV screening and receive guidance on infectious disease prevention, all through our HIV Program.
Dr. Carole Mitnick (PIH), Llalu Rios (SES) and Dr. Leonid Lecca (SES) present at the Partners In Health caravan. Photo by Diego Diaz / PIH
From Socios En Salud we know that there are still pending challenges to achieve a safe and inclusive Peruvian health system for the LGTBIQ+ Community. We need health personnel trained in sexual and gender minority care, who can guarantee an egalitarian and quality service, free of stigmas. Because diversity is healthy.
That is why we will continue to say: comprehensive health without prejudice and more health, less stigmas.