HIV and AIDS with deadly dangers

Expert emphasizes the need for continuous education and prevention

25/11/2014

Despite successful prevention programs such as „Give AIDS no chance“ the immunodeficiency disease HIV remains a major threat. Although in Germany, the rate of new infections has been significantly reduced in recent years, yet 550 people died of the disease in the past year alone, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA). Accordingly, according to the director of the BzgA, Professor Elisabeth Pott, indispensable to continue prevention and education.

550 people die from AIDS in 2013
Even after 30 years of preventive work is „AIDS“ continues to be an important topic, because every year several hundred people still die from the immunodeficiency syndrome. In this country alone 550 people died in the last year because the disease was discovered late, according to the director of the Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA), Professor. Elisabeth Pott, opposite the news agency „dpa“. Although the number of new infections has been falling overall for years, at present 80,000 people across Germany are living with HIV in the form of a chronic illness, which makes long-term treatment necessary.

HIV should not be underestimated
„In no case can now be assumed that HIV would be defeated and you would not have to protect yourself“, warns the expert accordingly on the occasion of World AIDS Day on 1 December. Instead, be „HIV [.] Still a disease that needs to be treated for a lifetime. Not everyone can handle the medication well.“ Thanks to decades of prevention and programs like „Give AIDS no chance“ Germany now has the lowest rate of new infections, in addition to Finland, compared with 3200 cases in Europe. Accordingly, be „Safe sex“ apparently now widespread, because „across all groups, we have a high and still slightly increasing protective behavior over condom use“, so Dr. Elisabeth Pott continues. However, about 14,000 people would not know about their infection so far, which makes it all the more important that prevention and education be continued. In addition, the professor would have to be maintained after the test offers, „to take advantage of the improved treatment options.“

Even children are often affected by discrimination
A further success of recent years sees the BzgA director in the successful education on dangers and misunderstandings in dealing with HIV, because the disease is still afflicted with a stigma. „Lack of knowledge is often the reason for panic, irrational behavior and also for lack of solidarity. We could push that back“, so Dr. Elisabeth Pott. Here, the BZgA focuses primarily on the production of a togetherness, „[...] therefore, we have included people who are HIV positive closely in prevention to increase credibility and social closeness.“ The problem would affect not only the victims themselves: „For fear of discrimination, children in HIV-positive families often grow up with secrecy. If they even know about the HIV infection of a family member, then they must not tell anyone“, so Dr. Ulrich Heide, Managing Director of the German AIDS Foundation. Accordingly, the foundation's goal is to help affected families by supporting and stabilizing their parents through appropriate projects and receiving financial aid.

United Nations wants to fight HIV worldwide by 2030
If sufficient funds come together, the United Nations (UN) goal is to eradicate the human immunodeficiency virus by 2030 to a large extent - a major challenge, as the BzgA reports, according to estimates by the UN project „UNAIDS“ By the end of 2013, 35 million people worldwide had HIV and AIDS, and 1.5 million people died as a result of the disease.

Already 13 million have access to medicines
The millennium goal „universal access to treatment and therapy by 2010“ According to the BzgA, this would not have been achieved, but international programs and preventive measures would nevertheless be „first fruits in this direction“ carry. More than 13 million people would have access to HIV medicines, an increase of more than 2.3 million cases compared to 2012. „This is a significant improvement, "says expert Pott. However, care must be exercised here and patients should be offered appropriate support: „But the drugs must also be taken consistently, accompanied and controlled, so they lead to reduced infectivity and thus does not develop resistance.“ (No)

Picture: Rike