No cure, but many prejudices – Offenburg

OFFENBURG. Even after more than 30 years of counseling for sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS at the district office in Offenburg, education and prevention are at the center of the debate: even though patients, thanks to modern medicine , have an almost normal life expectancy, they are still stigmatized, said Ullrich Böttinger, Head of the District Office for Social and Psychological Services, at a press conference on the occasion of World Day of AIDS, December 1st.

Since its inception in 1987, the district council office statistics include more than 41,000 interviews, approximately 15,000 HIV tests and 4,500 tests for other communicable infections. The position is open to people of all ages who have questions about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, AIDS, routes of transmission or protection options. The team is composed of a doctor, a medical assistant and a social worker. Effective January 1, 2019, Rebecca Bruder replaces Gerhard Lipp, a long-time social worker, who is retiring. In Germany, about 90,000 people were living with HIV or AIDS by the end of 2017, said Gerhard Lipps. If the infection is detected in time, the outbreak can be prevented. In Germany, the number of new infections has decreased slightly.

The same trend applies in Baden-Wuerttemberg: in 2016, 280 people were infected with HIV, up from 250 in 2017. However, the Robert Koch Institute estimates that about 11,400 people live in Germany and about 1000 in Baden-Württemberg, without their infection. to know. There is no special issue for Ortenau, so Lipps. About half of HIV diagnoses take years and are therefore far too late. The disease is under optimal treatment usually more contagious.

The main risk group still includes homosexual men, although the number of new infections in this group is decreasing. Heterosexuals often ignore their risks. Above all, they contract the infection through contacts with drug addicts, bisexual partners or abroad. In Germany, about 80% of men infected with HIV – but more women are affected worldwide. Until now, it was only possible to get an HIV test in some institutions or a doctor. Since the autumn of 2018, pharmacies, drugstores or the Internet carry out tests themselves. Which ones are reliable, can be read on the home page of the Paul Ehrlich Institute.

"Free availability lowers the threshold of inhibition," said Jürgen Schwarz of the Aids-Hilfe Offenburg / Ortenau. However, it is important to know that the result always indicates the status of twelve weeks ago. "With risky contacts, you still have to wait 12 weeks," says Schwarz. Positive results must always be confirmed by a laboratory test. "Education is still important, there is still no vaccine or cure, but a lot of prejudice," said Gerhard Lipps. More serious than the health consequences of infection weigh on the exclusion and fear of many people living with HIV. Therefore, we must fight each day of discrimination. "Selling as HIV positive is still not fun today, although many are more open about it than before," said Jürgen Schwarz of Aids Hilfe Offenburg / Ortenau. The explosive: Who is afraid of a stigma, under certain circumstances, can not even test.

World AIDS Day, December 1, aims to promote solidarity with people living with HIV and AIDS. This Thursday and Friday 29 and 30 November will be held an information kiosk at the Offenburg Christmas Market (Lindenplatz). With the sale of the new AIDS Teddys and art reproductions by Martin Sander, donations must be collected.

From November 30 to December 7, flags in front of the City Hall and District Office will mark World AIDS Day. Aids-Hilfe Offenburg invites you to a "Café" on December 1st from 10am to 1pm.

Anonymous tests

Free and anonymous test offers are available in the Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Counseling Center, Lange Straße 51, Offenburg, every Thursday from 8.30am to 12pm and from 1pm to 6pm, as well as within the assistance to Offenburg / Ortenaukreis eV, Malergasse 1, the second Wednesday of each month from 18h to 20h.