LGBTIQ+ Inclusion: Key to the Attainment of Good Health and Well-Being for All

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and plus (LGBTIQ+) individuals are still stigmatized and discriminated against in most African and Middle East region countries. In some countries, discrimination and stigmatization are constitutionalized as being sexual or gender nonbinary is considered a criminal act. However, these are also happening even in countries such as South Africa, where there are constitutions and other legal documents against discrimination of any individual regardless of their sexual and gender identity. The situation hinders LGBTIQ+ individuals from accessing healthcare services. As they live in the community, their nonaccess to healthcare services, especially for such infections as COVID-19 and HIV, poses a significant threat to curbing such pandemics. This chapter presents the experiences of LGBTIQ+ individuals when accessing healthcare services and the impact of those experiences. This chapter finally proposes the LGBTIQ+ friendly model to promote this population’s access to healthcare services. The author envisages that the implementation of the proposed model will ensure that LGBTIQ+ individuals have equal access to healthcare services which can contribute to curbing infectious disease, assist in the attainment of healthy lives, and promote well-being for all at all ages.