World AIDS Day More solidarity demanded

World Aids Day: campaign for more solidarity in the workplace started

December 1st is World AIDS Day. Every year, the initiators use this day to draw attention to the specific problem of the disease or the person concerned. This year, solidarity at the workplace is the focus of the accompanying campaigns.

Two-thirds of those infected with HIV go about regular work
Already on Monday, the campaign started ahead of this year's World AIDS Day „Living together positively - but for sure!“, calls for solidarity with HIV-infected people in the workplace. The campaign is intended to encourage all citizens to speak openly about the disease, said Federal Health Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP) on the start of the campaign in Berlin. Silke Klumb, Managing Director of the German AIDS Aid, added in this context that today two-thirds of all HIV-infected people work. „Our experience shows that HIV-positive people are on average just as capable as their colleagues“, Klumb explained. One in every 1,000 workers in Germany is infected with HIV, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. The current campaign explicitly addresses the situation of those affected in the workplace to ensure that those infected with HIV can talk about their infection at work without fear of being mobbed or even fired. Because many of those affected do not talk with their colleagues or friends about their diagnosis for fear of discrimination.

Tolerance and solidarity with HIV-infected people
However, the open communication is not only important for those affected, but also contributes to the opinion of the Federal Minister of Health that Germany can have one of the lowest rates of new infections in Europe. The current campaign is designed for a period of several years and is jointly supported by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), the Federal Ministry of Health, the German Aids Help and the German Aids Foundation.

The current campaign was unique in its form worldwide, stressed Federal Health Minister Philipp Rösler on Monday on the occasion of the launch of the campaign. Silke Klumb called on companies to participate in large numbers and to counter discrimination against people with HIV / AIDS in the workplace with clear rules and the exemplary role of their management. The BZgA director Elisabeth Pott added that it goes without saying that in a democratic society Aids sufferers are involved in all areas of life. The tolerance and solidarity voiced by most citizens in surveys should also be actively demonstrated in everyday life.

To facilitate a return to working life
Thus, one of the key aspects for working HIV-infected people is the return to work after diagnosis. Here, Ulrich Heide of the German Aids Foundation appealed to the companies to make it easier for the infected to re-enter the diagnosis. Older people infected with HIV, for whom no treatment options were available at the time of diagnosis, were often unable to work for a long time and had problems reentering, which was accompanied by corresponding financial bottlenecks. In addition, according to Ulrich Heides, today infected mothers are particularly affected by discrimination, at the latest when other parents in the daycare learn about their illness.

Testimonials HIV-infected
An essential approach of the campaign are the reports of the victims, in which they report openly and authentically on the experiences in the profession and in the circle of friends. In this way, other HIV-infected persons should be encouraged to no longer hide and demand the acceptance of society, emphasized the BZgA director Elisabeth Pott. The 41-year-old banker Dirk, for example, spoke openly about his illness shortly after his diagnosis when working with superiors and colleagues: „HIV is among us, HIV is alive, HIV is working, HIV is not in bed and is dying“.

3,000 new HIV infections annually
Even though Germany is one of the countries with the lowest number of new infections, around 3,000 people a year are infected with HIV nationwide. And „we need the solidarity and attention of everyone so that together we can reduce the number of new infections in the future“ emphasized the Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, about 67,000 people currently suffer from HIV in Germany. Aids is not a life-threatening disease, but is now a chronic disease, explained Rösler. Some celebrities are also involved in the current World Aids Day campaign „ambassador“ such as Ross Antony, Vera Int Veen and Collien Fernandes for solidarity with those affected and an increased awareness of prevention. (fp, 02.11.2010)

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