AIDS: two people die every day in Pernambuco

Although we no longer talk about HIV / AIDS, as at the height of the epidemic, the numbers are still quite high throughout the country: in Pernambuco, two people on average die every day of the disease and every six hours you contract the virus. . The alert comes from the Positive Action Group (GTP) +, which promotes a series of actions, until December 15, to mark the World AIDS Day, created on Dec. 1. to fight prejudice and stigmatization. around the disease.

The program was opened yesterday with a political act in the form of a patchwork quilt painted on the sidewalk of the entity, at Rua Manoel Borba, No. 545, in Boa Vista, in the center of the name people who died as a result of the epidemic. The coral source of tomorrow, formed by the elders of the Institute of Integrated Medicine, Professor Fernando Figueira (Imip), participated in the event.

"Those who have won the public policies of prevention and care for people living with HIV / AIDS were many among the people who died during these four decades to fight for it." And we want not only honor them, but also draw attention to the importance of the continuity of these policies.The data are worrying us.recife has the highest incidence of HIV in the northeast, "said the general coordinator of the GTP +, Wladimir Reis.

CAMPAIGNS

"Where are the prevention campaigns?" They do not go out until carnival and Christmas. People do not only have sex during these times, it is necessary to carry out constant campaigns to reach the population, because the prejudices are what we are HIV has no prejudices, "says Wladimir, who has been living with the virus for 26 years, and is currently undetectable, that is, not sexually transmitted.

"Recently, the future Minister of Health said that prevention should be done within the family, but in our culture, people have a hard time talking about sex and most are infected with sex. therefore does not work ". For 18 years, the organization has been responsible for the reception, testing and orientation of people who are infected or at increased risk of infection.

VIVA RACHID

The founder of the group Viva Rachid (closed in 2014 due to financial difficulties), Alaíde Elias da Silva, 64, was present at the event. For 20 years, the organization has fought for the rights of children and adolescents living with HIV. The child was infected at 1 year and 3 months during a transfusion. He died at the age of 8 years and 5 months. "I broke a lot of things, we knew very little about AIDS and prejudice is still important, and the fight must continue," he said.

The Ministry of Health is now presenting a new epidemiological bulletin containing up-to-date disease data. In 2016, 621 people died of AIDS only in Pernambuco.