Aids-help: Protecting disadvantaged groups better

HIV - Aids-help: Protecting disadvantaged groups better

The German AIDS Help calls for more political and financial engagement in the fight against HIV worldwide at the end of the World AIDS Conference in Munich. "The situation is critical," said Winfried Holz from the board at the conclusion of the largest scientific meeting on HIV and AIDS on Friday. "This conference has never shown so clearly before: The world has effective means, but the funding for HIV/AIDS measures is inadequate globally, and in many countries there is also a lack of political will for prevention for particularly affected groups."

Global financial resources for the fight against HIV in countries with low and medium income are declining according to the UN Programme UNAIDS. In 2023, they fell by five percent compared to the previous year to 19.8 billion US-Dollars (18.2 billion Euro). They were 9.5 billion short of the required amount of 29.3 billion US-Dollars by 2025.

Action is also needed in Germany

The AIDS Help sees a need for action in Germany as well. Here, people are still getting infected with AIDS, for example, because they lack papers or health insurance and therefore have no regular access to therapy. The federal government must ensure coverage, while countries and municipalities must also strengthen drug assistance.

For example, those who pursue homosexuals or intravenous drug users, instead of providing them with prevention, are seeing rising infection numbers. "We see this in Eastern Europe, and to some extent it also applies in Germany," explained the AIDS Help. Several federal states like Bavaria have no consumption rooms, which could save lives and prevent infections. However, infection numbers are increasing in this group precisely. Even Munich as the host city of the World AIDS Conference Munich should not establish consumption rooms because the state government does not allow it.

Medicine to protect against HIV infection

Holz renewed the call for the affordable availability of the medicine Lenacapavir, which, according to a study in southern Africa, reliably protects women against an HIV infection when injected twice a year. It could protect disadvantaged groups with high HIV risk - and this includes young women in southern Africa.

1. The World AIDS Conference in Munich, hosted in Bavaria, Germany, highlighted the critical global situation regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and funding.
2. The lack of political will and financial resources in many countries for HIV/AIDS measures was a major concern raised at the World AIDS Conference in Munich.
3. According to UNAIDS, global financial resources for fighting HIV, particularly in low and medium-income countries, have decreased by 5%, falling to $19.8 billion USD in 2023.
4. Winfried Holz from German AIDS Help called for the affordable availability of Lenacapavir, a medicine that can protect against HIV infection, at the World AIDS Conference in Munich.
5. In Germany, people are still being infected with AIDS due to lack of papers or health insurance, and action is needed to ensure coverage and strengthen drug assistance.
6. The lack of consumption rooms in several German states, including Bavaria, has resulted in rising HIV infection numbers among groups like homosexuals and intravenous drug users.
7. The affordable availability and wider use of Lenacapavir, which protects against HIV infection, could particularly benefit disadvantaged groups with high HIV risk, such as young women in southern Africa.

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