World AIDS Day, We-Test restarts: Italy leads Europe in late diagnoses, and the HIV testing initiative returns to LGBTQIA+ spaces.
Rome, November 30, 2024 On World AIDS Day, December 1st, the national project "We Test – Let's Put Health in Circulation" is relaunching. This project provides rapid HIV testing in recreational clubs and LGBTQIA+ associations, promoted by Arcigay, ARCO, ARC Onlus, ASA Onlus, Mario Mieli, Ireos, Gaynet, NPS, NUDI, and Plus Onlus. The goal is to spread the culture of testing and sexual health in spaces that are essential meeting places, places of freedom, and personal awareness, accessible to LGBTQIA+ people and those of all identities: Thousands of kits ready in over 30 cities.
The Initiative had been successfully carried out between 2018 and 2019, only to be interrupted following the pandemic.
According to data just published by the AIDS Operations Center of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), in 2023 we 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.
Furthermore, since 2015, The percentage of people diagnosed with HIV infection late is constantly increasing, so-called late presenters: of 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 AIDS: In 2023, 77.2% of people diagnosed with AIDS (532) had not received antiretroviral therapy before their AIDS diagnosis.
Finally, the data confirms the shortcomings in the cultural approach to testing and prevention: the reasons that led people with a new HIV diagnosis to take the test concern, for 35%, people who did it following HIV related symptoms, sonly for the 19.6% people who did it following behaviors at risk of infection, and even fewer, for the 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 untransmissible, according to the well-established U=U principle (undetectable=untransmissible).
These numbers confirm the need to restart the construction of a new culture of testing for HIV and other STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), especially considering the significant increase in diseases such as syphilis, which has grown rapidly in recent years.
We Test aims once again to structuralize existing collaborative experiences in the local community, reaching people directly in their meeting places, expanding the opportunity to get tested and obtain health information, and raising awareness about the need for regular testing in public and community facilities.
The HIV testing initiative, entirely implemented thanks to the human and financial resources of the proposing associations, will also include significant coordination, monitoring, and analysis efforts to strengthen dialogue with institutions, enabling them to implement concrete measures for sexual health.
Through We Test, we aim to contribute to a culture of free and conscious sexuality, as well as to overcome phobias and stigma.
Promoting associations
Arcigay – Italian LGBTI+ Association
ARCO – Recreational Association for Homosexual Circles; Cultural and Volunteer Association; ARC Onlus; ASA – AIDS Solidarity Association, Milan.
Mario Mieli Homosexual Culture Circle
Ireos – Self-Managed Queer Community Service Center Gaynet – LGBTQIA+ Training and Communication NPS – Network of HIV-Positive People Onlus
NUDES – No One Equal Different Together
Plus – LGBT+ HIV-positive people aps
