On the occasion of the European HIV Testing Week, the streets of Krakow, Poznań, Warsaw and Wrocław were lit up with red bows displayed on the facades of buildings. On the World Day of Combating AIDS, i.e. December 1, we will see them once again on the streets of the capital.
Warsaw, November 26, 2018 – “With red bows with the words Together against HIV, we want to draw attention to the still dangerous problem of HIV and AIDS, show solidarity with people infected and encourage everyone to test themselves for infection. In Poland, HIV practically does not kill any more, because the Minister of Health, as part of the National Health Program, provides the infected with modern, very effective and safe drugs, but you can only treat yourself knowing about the disease, “said Mateusz Liwski from the Polish Foundation for Humanitarian Aid” Res Humanae “, which organizes a light happening in Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław and Kraków.
The data of the NIPH-NIH clearly show that the HIV epidemic has not yet been overcome. The number of newly detected HIV infections in Poland is growing. Since the research was implemented in 1985, there have been over 23. infections. Only in 2017 – as many as 1526. Thanks to the availability of modern, free therapy provided by the Ministry of Health, every infected person has a chance to live a normal life until old age. Unfortunately, despite this, people still die of AIDS in Poland. Undetected or poorly treated HIV infection still causes death or serious complications.
“Only one in ten Poles tested for HIV, and according to experts, even this number is overstated. We displace the risk of infection with this virus from consciousness. After all, one risky sexual contact, i.e. simply sex without a condom, is enough for the threat to become real. So let’s test ourselves! Preferably on a regular basis, not only during the European Testing Week, ”said Paweł Mierzejewski, coordinator of the Positively Open Program dealing with the promotion of HIV / AIDS prevention and education.
The National AIDS Center “I have time to talk” (#mamczasrozmawiac) inspires people to talk to their loved ones about HIV and encourages them to take a test. Next to actress Maria Seweryn, blogger MD. Katarzyna Woźniak, the author of the blog “Mama i stethoscope”, and vlogger Karolina Sobańska, experts: sexologist and educator Professor Zbigniew Izdebski and psychologist Małgorzata Ohme were involved in information and promotion activities.
“Everyone should do the test, but not me” – this attitude of Poles towards the HIV test unfortunately emerges from many years of research by the National AIDS Center. As a result of such thinking in Poland, about 3 people become infected with HIV every day. Since 1985, nearly 23 people have been identified. infections, and only every second infected person knows they are living with the virus. Although still too few people decide to have a test, it is also true that the number of tests performed is increasing every year.
“You should look for excuses to talk. For example, Poles often watch TV series in which, among others, the issues of sexuality, betrayal, drug use, violence, love affairs, pregnancy, etc. are discussed. In my opinion, all these are pretexts for parents or grandparents to evoke this topic at home and encourage other household members to express their views. The point is not to ask directly whether the child experiences such situations, but whether what is shown in the series or in the reportage also applies to him. What does it think about it? – said Professor Zbigniew Izdebski, sexologist, Head of the Department of Humanization, Medicine and Sexology, University of Zielona Góra and the Department of Biomedical Foundations of Development and Sexology at the University of Warsaw.
The educational campaign “I have time to talk” shows that talking about HIV and testing is a normal and natural way to take care of your health and that of your loved ones, and an element of health education in the family. TV spots with Maria Seweryn, and above all experts and bloggers who encourage such conversations and testing, instruct on how to undertake this difficult dialogue. The most important information about HIV and examples of “Family mini phrasebooks” are available on the campaign website: https://mamczasrozmawiac.aids.gov.pl
“We very often wish for health, but this should also be followed by actions. For example, talking about safer sexual behavior or taking an HIV test. The problem still exists, because silence about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevents us from treating safer sexual behavior as part of personal responsibility, and testing for HIV and other STIs as a normal diagnosis “- said Małgorzata Ohme, psychologist, writer and journalist, lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw and editor-in-chief of the Onet Woman website.
From the implementation of the research in 1985 to June 30, 2018, 23.233 HIV infections were diagnosed in Poland, 3.619 AIDS cases were reported, and 1.398 patients died – according to the statistics of the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene. In 2017, 1.193 new cases of infection were diagnosed. The vast majority of them occur in Poland through sexual contact.
“Fear and denial of the fact that we may be affected is still a common response from many people when it comes to talking about HIV prevention or taking a test. People who know that infection is no longer a medical challenge and that they can live with it for many years, and after reaching an undetectable viral load, become completely non-infectious for other people, cope better with this anxiety. Spreading this knowledge is one of the goals of the #mamczasrozmawiac campaign, ”summed up Anna Marzec-Bogusławska, director of the National AIDS Center.
It is worth remembering that the HIV test can be performed free of charge, anonymously and without referral at 30 points throughout Poland throughout the year, not only during the Testing Week. They employ highly qualified advisers who provide professional help. Each visitor to the Point has the opportunity to talk in confidence both before and after the test. Addresses and opening hours of consultation and diagnostic points are available at: aids.gov.pl/pkd