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HI Virus Eastern Europe becomes the central area of the AIDS epidemic
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Jens Spahn launches self-tests on HIV
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn wants to legislate that HIV self-tests are available over-the-counter. This should be done before anyone else who is not tested by the doctor.
In 2030, the United Nations wanted to stop the spread of the Hi virus. The medical means are there. But shame, prejudice and lack of education lead to new high infections in Eastern Europe and Asia.
R and 18,000 scientists, activists, patients and politicians discuss ways to stem the global HIV epidemic this week in Amsterdam. Originally, the United Nations AIDS Program (Unaids) in 2014 planned to stop the spread of the HIV virus by 2030.
The target is now considered difficult to achieve. In some countries and regions of the world, "we see the epidemic continuing to increase," warned Linda Gail-Bekker, president of the International AIDS Society
The 22nd World Conference on AIDS, which stands until Friday, is world's largest meeting of experts on immunodeficiency. This year's motto is "breaking down barriers, building bridges". Not only new therapies need to be discussed and new science must be presented, but also fundamental patient rights – such as how vulnerable groups around the world can access tests and therapies.
Nearly 37 million people are currently infected with the HI virus, most of whom live in Africa. Nearly 60% of them are currently being treated, writes Unaids. Every year, nearly one million people die of AIDS. According to Unaids, there have been 1.8 million new infections in 2017.
The goal of pushing back the number of new infections to 500,000 by 2020 seems unattainable. The same goes for the plan to reduce the number of deaths to less than 500,000 by 2020 as well. "We give the alert," said Michel Sidibé, the boss of Unaids, a few days ago. Although progress has been made in Africa, the number of new infections in some 50 countries is increasing significantly.
"The decline in new infections was most evident in the region most affected by HIV, Eastern and Southern Africa, where new HIV infections have fallen by 30% since 2010," Unaids points out. On the other hand, the number of new infections each year in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has doubled.
The reasons for this development are mainly due to the social stigmatization of HIV-positive people. In many countries in the East, HIV is still considered a marginal disease. The growing condemnation of homobaduals in Russia, for example, goes hand in hand with a smothering of the HIV problem. Figures are increasing in countries that discriminate against minorities. And not only among the members of these minorities.
In Amsterdam, many celebrities will support the fight against AIDS and fight against the stigmatization of infected people. Expectations include former US President Bill Clinton, British Prince Harry, pop legend Sir Elton John and Austrian artist Conchita.
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