Sunday December 1st, On the occasion of World HIV/AIDS Day, Naples and LGBTQIA+ associations took to the streets to advocate for prevention and against stigma.
San Domenico Maggiore Square will be the beating heart of the day, where from 10:00 to 21:00 the usual event organized by will take place Antinoo Arcigay Naples, in collaboration with Pride Vesuvius Rainbow, the’Cotugno Hospital and with the support of the CSV of Naples and of the project We-Test. The initiative enjoys the moral patronage of the Municipality of Naples and of the Metropolitan City of Naples.
Why December 1st?
Established by the WHO in 1988, World AIDS Day represents a key opportunity to take stock of the epidemiological situation, promote prevention, and combat stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
A day dedicated to information and prevention
After last year's success with "Pizza e Test" and "Tarallo e Test", this year the initiative is renewed with a new tasty proposal: "“Love beyond the pastry: choose prevention”In collaboration with Leopoldo, those who take the test (HIV and Syphilis, rapid, anonymous and free) will be able to taste a delicious sfogliatella.
An opportunity to learn and get tested
The event will be an opportunity to learn about the ways the virus is transmitted, prevention methods, and available treatments. Healthcare workers and peer workers will be present to offer free rapid testing, information, and consultations.
2023 data from the Italian National Institute of Health
According to data just published by the AIDS Operations Centre of the’National Institute of Health (Iss) in 2023 We have returned close to pre-Covid levels. Most infections resulting from sexual intercourse concern for the 38.6% the MSM (men who have sex with men), 26.61% of men who have heterosexual intercourse, and 21.11% of women who have heterosexual intercourse. New HIV diagnoses in 2023 there were 2349, up from 2140 in 2022 and close to the 2510 recorded in 2019.
Late diagnoses are increasing, above the European average
Furthermore, since 2015 the number of people receiving treatment has been constantly increasing. HIV infection diagnosed late, so-called late presentersOf the new diagnoses, over 60% occurred when the CD4 lymphocyte count was less than 350, a value already critical for the immune system. This value is higher than the Western European average (45.9), central (57%) and eastern (59.5%). Consequently, many people are diagnosed with HIV infection when they are already in AIDS: In 2023, 77.2% of people diagnosed with AIDS (532) had not received antiretroviral therapy before their AIDS diagnosis.
Poor culture of prevention in our country
Finally, the data that confirms the shortcomings in the cultural approach to testing and prevention: the motivations that prompted people with newly diagnosed HIV to get tested for 35% are people who did so following HIV related symptoms, only for 19.6% people who did it following behaviors at risk of infection, and even fewer, for 12.3%, people who did it for routine checks, following screening or information campaigns.
If it is not diagnosed early HIV infection compromises the immune system and becomes more easily transmissible. Otherwise, HIV infection is perfectly manageable with antiretroviral therapy, which makes the virus non-transmissible, according to the now consolidated U=U principle (undetectable=untransmissible).
Free anonymous rapid HIV and syphilis test
WHEN: December 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Naples, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore
INFO: [email protected] and +393283852010
#WorldAIDSDay #Naples #Prevention #HIV #WAD2024
Article from https://www.arcigaynapoli.org/2024/11/30/1dicembre-giornata-lotta-aids-2024/
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Promote rights, actions, well-being, campaigns, demonstrations, monitor and put pressure on parliament and institutions so that in Italy there are increasingly more egalitarian policies and laws in favor of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and intersexuals, coast. Arcigay tries to give body and reality to each of these objectives with specific programs and initiatives…that cost! This is why we ask you to support us. You can do it with a one-time donation or with periodic donations even small amounts but which allow us to better plan our activities, with the 5×1000, with a legacy, by financing specific initiatives, by urging your company to support us… To your advantage, there are also tax breaks. You provide us with your support and trust. We provide our hard work, brains, and passion, and we're committed to keeping you informed about the progress of our joint work and how we'll invest your contribution.Because a better society is good for everyone, for you and for us. Article taken from https://www.arcigaynapoli.org/2024/11/30/1dicembre-giornata-lotta-aids-2024/