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The initiative is being implemented in over 15 cities, involving 9 associations, and will include over 3,000 tests scheduled directly in LGBTI meeting places. The goal is to expand testing availability, increase testing frequency, and address the delay in HIV diagnosis, a major factor in the continued spread of the virus.
Rome, November 30, 2018 – On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the national project kicks off for the second consecutive year We Test, Let's Put Health in Circulation, which provides rapid HIV testing in recreational clubs and LGBTI associations, was presented at the Sala Azzurra of the Press Federation in Rome.
The initiative is promoted in over 15 cities by Arcigay – Italian LGBTI+ Association, ARCO – Recreational Association of Homosexual Circles, ARC Onlus Cultural and Volunteer Association, ASA – Milan AIDS Solidarity Association, Mario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Circle, Ireos – Self-Managed Queer Community Service Center, NPS – Network of HIV-Positive People Onlus, NUDI – No One Equals Different Together, Plus – LGBT HIV-Positive People Onlus
According to the latest data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, despite a substantially stable number of new HIV infections in 2017, a serious problem related to HIV continues to exist in our country. delayed diagnosis: More than half (55.8%) of people diagnosed with HIV infection in 2017 (3443) already had a compromised immune system (defined as a CD4 cell count less than 350).
In other words, many people are diagnosed with HIV infection when they are already in Full-blown AIDS. In fact, of the total number of new AIDS cases (690), the percentage of people with a new diagnosis of AIDS who were unaware of their HIV status and discovered they were HIV positive in the few months preceding the diagnosis is 73.9%, a figure which has only stabilised this year after having risen constantly starting from 20.5% in 1996.
Finally, it should be noted that among the motivations which have induced people with a new HIV diagnosis to take the test, there is a stable percentage (32%) of people who have done so following HIV related symptoms, while only one 26% did so following behaviors that risked infection.
All this represents a critical situation of serious risk to health: if diagnosed early HIV infection is perfectly manageable with antiretroviral therapy (which can make the virus non-transmissible), but without it it compromises the immune system and becomes more easily transmissible.
These numbers confirm the need to build a new culture of testing for HIV and other STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), especially considering the considerable increase in pathologies such as syphilis, which has grown more than 5 times compared to 2000 and 70% compared to 2015, which facilitate the transmission of the virus.
We Test aims to make collaborative experiences already established in the area structural to reach people directly in meeting places, expand the possibility of taking the test and get health information, raise awareness about test frequency in public and associative structures.
The initiative will be developed throughout 2019 for a total of over 3000 rapid tests, on which a coordinated monitoring and analysis effort will be launched and a subsequent dialogue with the institutions will be carried out, so that they can implement concrete actions for sexual health.
Through We Test, the promoting associations aim to contribute to a culture of freer and more conscious sexuality.
Arcigay - Italian LGBTI+ Association,
ARCO – Gay Recreational Association
ARC Onlus Cultural and Volunteer Association
ASA – AIDS Solidarity Association Milan
Mario Mieli Homosexual Culture Circle
Ireos – Self-Managed Queer Community Service Center
NPS – Network of HIV-Positive People Onlus
NUDES – No One Equal Different Together
Plus – HIV-Positive LGBT People Onlus
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