On the occasion of World AIDS Day on December 1st, Aids-Hilfe Frankfurt invites you to a memorial event. Meanwhile, mayor Mike Josef and social affairs officer Elke Voitl are making Frankfurt a fast-track city when it comes to combating HIV.
Against this background, we took the liberty of thinking about saying goodbye to AIDS this year. “Of course the ‘old’ AIDS still exists when people don’t get tested,” says Christian Setzepfandt, board member of the AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt. But in the Western world, no one has to get sick and die from AIDS anymore, added the head of the department for psychosocial and prevention, Carsten Gehrig, at a virtual information event on November 23rd. In Frankfurt, marginalized groups, such as illegal sex workers, are particularly affected. We try to help them through outreach social work.
Setzepfandt and Gehring would like to see continued financial support from politicians, but also free HIV tests, as agreed during the coalition negotiations in North Rhine-Westphalia last year. An HIV test, including test material and advice, costs 18 euros at Aids-Hilfe Frankfurt. In addition to the regular test days on Mondays and Thursdays, for which an appointment is now necessary due to high demand, the association also organizes special days once a quarter just for women, trans, inter or non-binary people. Although there are other testing options in the city, the AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt is the only anonymous one. That’s why people even come from surrounding cities, sometimes more than twice as many as there is space. “We are at the limit with our consulting capacities.”
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the health department is offering free HIV tests in the examination and advice center for sexual and reproductive health on December 1st from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. without prior registration. You can also be tested for syphilis, hepatitis B and C on this day, but only after paying the laboratory costs of 10 to 23 euros per test.
On Tuesday, November 28th, Mayor Mike Josef made the city of Frankfurt’s entry into the Fast-Track Cities Initiative official by signing the Paris Declaration. The city is thus committed to the 95-95-95 goals: By 2030, 95 percent of HIV-positive people in Frankfurt should be informed about their infection, 95 percent of whom are on antiretroviral therapy and 95 percent of whom have a viral load below the detection limit. Around 300 cities and municipalities worldwide belong to the initiative.
“In the 1980s, the Frankfurt Health Department was one of the first in Germany to offer education and advice on the subject of AIDS to citizens. “We want to continue this commitment today by signing the Paris Declaration and thereby also set an example against discrimination and exclusion of HIV-positive people,” said Josef on Tuesday. “With this history, it is a logical step for the city of Frankfurt to join the Fast-Track Cities,” said the head of the Frankfurt Health Department, Peter Tinnemann. And the head of the health department, Elke Voitl, emphasized: “The city of Frankfurt is already doing a lot to reduce the number of new HIV infections and has a strong partner at its side in the AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt.”
On this year’s World AIDS Day, the association invites you to a memorial event in the Stadthaus Frankfurt, followed by a funeral march to the AIDS Memorial. After a welcome and the city’s greeting from Elke Voitl, there will be a dialogue with Christian Setzepfandt and Peter Gute from the Frankfurt Infectiology Center as well as a discussion with other guests. The whole thing is accompanied by music and broadcast live by Frankfurt city radio. In addition, the Bärenstark campaign is again offering its solidarity bears in old pink for sale for 7.50 euros.
World AIDS Day 2023
Free HIV testing
Friday, December 1st, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m
Examination and advice center for sexual and reproductive health
Breite Gasse 28, room 2.13 (without prior registration)
Tests for syphilis, hepatitis B and C against payment of laboratory costs (10-23 euros each)
Farewell to AIDS?
Friday, December 1st, 6 p.m
Townhouse Frankfurt, Markt 1
From around 7.45 p.m. funeral march to the AIDS Memorial
AIDS Help Frankfurt
Friedberg facility 24
There are appointments for tests here