AIDS organizations called for an end to HIV discrimination

AIDS organizations: call for an end to HIV discrimination

Many HIV-positive people sometimes even hide their illness from acquaintances and family members because they have to fear prejudice. Even in health care, sufferers are often discriminated against. Experts demand that this must finally be over.

Discrimination against HIV-infected persons in medical practices
Leading AIDS organizations call for an end to discrimination against people living with HIV in doctors' offices or clinics, the news agency dpa reports. According to a statement published on Wednesday at the German-Austrian AIDS Congress in Düsseldorf, "HIV-positive patients should not suffer any disadvantages in terms of access and care." According to estimates, approximately 80,000 people in Germany live with HIV or the immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS.

More training on HIV and AIDS required
"HIV-positive patients can be treated like everyone else," said the president of the German AIDS Society, Prof. Georg Behrens. "Compliance with normal health conditions will exclude HIV transmission in everyday medical practice." According to reports, organizations of medical associations and associations have requested more training on HIV and AIDS. It is said that the German Medical Association and the Federal Chamber of Dentists have recognized the problem and have already called for an unprejudiced treatment of HIV-infected people.

Discrimination makes effective prevention impossible
Due to the exclusion and discrimination of HIV-infected people in Germany and elsewhere, according to experts, effective prevention and health care are often made impossible. As Carsten Schatz of the German AIDS-Hilfe (DAH) said last year, discrimination is "an engine of the epidemic" in many countries and costs many people their lives or their health. At last year's World AIDS Day, various organizations had launched an innovative campaign to help reduce prejudice and discrimination against HIV-positive people. Among other things, posters are used to ask whether or not one would kiss HIV-positive people. The answer is given immediately: "Sure, if he is my type". (Ad)