School project for World Aids Day

School project for World Aids Day

December 1st is World Aids Day. It is the day of solidarity with HIV-positive people and the commemoration of those who have died of AIDS. It has been celebrated every year on December 1 since 1988. The most important goals are non-discriminatory treatment and access to medical care for all people worldwide. Today, HIV is highly treatable, although not yet curable. Highly effective drugs prevent the virus from multiplying in the body. If diagnosed and treated in time, HIV-positive people lead a completely normal life and do not have a shortened life expectancy. They no longer contract AIDS. HIV is also no longer transmissible under treatment. In an online survey in 2020, 90% of respondents stated that they were living well with their HIV infection. Three quarters felt that their health was not or only slightly impaired. However, almost all of them experience discrimination. 95 percent reported at least one discriminatory experience in the last twelve months due to HIV. 52 percent stated that their lives were affected by prejudice.

Discrimination and rejection occur in all areas of life: People with HIV are underestimated at work, rejected when dating and maltreated with unnecessary precautions in the healthcare system. They are blamed in their family environment and suffer rejection when they take their children to nursery. A survey by Deutsche Aidshilfe revealed gaps in knowledge and fear of contact. Almost a quarter of respondents preferred not to share dishes or sports equipment with HIV-positive people, and a fifth were afraid to use the same toilet. Only half of the people surveyed would kiss an HIV-positive person they liked. Yet HIV is not transmissible in any of these situations.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, at least 770 people were living with HIV in Thuringia at the end of 2021. 10 people have died of AIDS.

On December 1, the network "vielfältig l(i)eben in Jena" is organizing a day of action for Jena schools to mark World AIDS Day. Education about HIV and sexually transmitted infections as well as an appeal for more acceptance are central components of the campaign. The sensitive topic is to be communicated to young people at various campaign stands and fears of contact are to be reduced. However, there is simple and effective protection: condoms, which protect against other sexually transmitted infections as well as HIV. Other ways of preventing infection with HIV with the help of medication include pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP for short, and HIV therapy.

The project day is supported in cooperation with the following institutions:

• Counseling center(link is external) Jena of AIDS-Hilfe Weimar & Ostthüringen e.V.
• JuMäX Jena e.V.(link is external)
• School education project miteinAnderS of Vielfalt Leben - QueerWeg Verein für Thüringen e. V.(link is external)
• Strohhalm child and youth protection service(link is external) & conflict and social counseling for pregnant women and families of the Zentrum für Familie und Alleinerziehende e.V.
• Youth and Education Department & Health Department of Jena City Council

Further information:

• BZgA(link is external)
• Deutsche Aidshilfe provides information on all important aspects of HIV in a video series(link is external)