AIDS discrimination against HIV-infected people

In Germany HIV-infected people often experience discrimination

07/18/2014

HIV-infected people in Germany often struggle with prejudice and discrimination. Affected people report reactions like: „I do not treat her“ at the family doctor or „I can not drink with you from a glass“ from friends, writes „Mirror online“. Overall HIV prevails great ignorance mixed with fear and prejudice. For those affected, HIV infection often equates to stigmatization.

The German AIDS-Hilfe (DAH) presents its concept of „Did you actually know?“-Campaign on July 20 at the World AIDS Conference in Melbourne. However, the conference is overshadowed by the crash of the Malaysian Airlines' Boeing 777, which included many researchers and activists who wanted to attend the Melbourne conference „Mirror online“. The main goal of the German AIDS-Hilfe is in addition to the prevention and adequate care of those affected, including overcoming prejudices and fears when dealing with HIV-infected people.

Discrimination as a motor of the HIV epidemic
DAH board member Carsten Schatz stated that effective prevention and health care are impossible in many countries through exclusion and prosecution. Generally be „Discrimination is an engine of the epidemic and costs many people life or health“, Treasure continues. Even in Germany, HIV-positive people still experience discrimination, with ignorance often providing fertile ground for prejudice. People are often unaware that transmission of the virus in everyday life is highly unlikely or that modern therapies allow many infected people to lead a largely normal life and, for example, to start a family „Mirror online“. DAH spokesman Holger Wicht emphasized to the news magazine that this knowledge is still not firmly anchored in society.

Enlightenment and solidarity with those affected
Despite the continuing discrimination against HIV-infected people, Germany has in dealing with HIV according to the spokesman of the German AIDS-Hilfe „decided for a good way.“ The protective behavior in Germany is „largely stable“ and „the number of new infections is at a low level in European comparison“, explained Holger Wicht. The test behavior has shown a slight improvement in recent years. There is enlightenment and a solidary dealing with those affected, so Wicht next. However, the prejudices and irrational fears of fellow human beings could not be completely eliminated until today. Hardly any illness is proven with such a stigma, explained the DAH spokesman further. According to the person skilled in the art this is presumably due to the connection with sex. Accordingly, the infected may often listen to extremely inappropriate comments. „Probably not prevented“, is one of the more harmless examples.

Only a few can be tested
In the article of „Mirror online“ describes the 29-year-old, HIV-infected Steven in Berlin his personal experiences on dealing with the issue of AIDS in the gay scene and the reactions of people after the announcement of his illness. From this it can be concluded that prevention is in many cases too short. Only a few would be tested, also because they are afraid of the result. Displacement and indifference are the order of the day, reports the 29-year-old. After he received the diagnosis at the age of 17, according to his own statements, a world first collapsed for the Berliner. But over the years, Steven has learned to live with his HIV infection. Today he is working normally and thanks to the therapy he is doing well. Steven talked openly about his illness with his parents, friends and colleagues. According to the 29-year-old, only his grandparents are unaware of the fact that he is worried about overcharging her. Since Patrick Lindner was dating a man, they have not watched Patrick Lindner shows on television and „it would all be a bit too much for her“, cited „Mirror online“ the statement of the Berliner. (Fp)