According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of people living in Germany with an HIV infection is estimated to be around 90,800 at the end of 2021. The number of new infections was 1,800 in 2021 and was unchanged compared to the previous year in 2020. In 2022, 148 new diagnoses were reported from Saxony and 54 from Leipzig, which are HIV infections confirmed by laboratory diagnostics for the first time.
Strong goal: end AIDS by 2030
In order to achieve the international goal of ending AIDS by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formulated interim goals, including that by 2025, 95 percent of people with an HIV infection will also know about their infection. The RKI estimates that around 8,600 people in Germany live with an HIV infection without knowing that they are infected, which is ten percent of all HIV-infected people.
“In order to get closer to the goal of ‘ending AIDS’, it is necessary to also reach the ten percent of HIV-positive people who are currently unaware of their infection. Anyone who would like to clarify the risk of infection can easily use the low-threshold, anonymous test offers at both the Leipzig Health Department and the Leipzig Aidshilfe. In addition, you can buy safe HIV self-tests in pharmacies and drugstores that are well suited to detecting or ruling out an HIV infection,” says Dr. Aspasia Manos from the Leipzig Health Department. “Under www.pei.de You can find reliable information about self-tests approved in Germany”.
Sandra Bischoff from Aidshilfe Leipzig said: “If an HIV infection is proven, early treatment is possible. The highly effective medications available prevent the HIV virus from multiplying in the body. This prevents the progression of HIV infection and AIDS. Thanks to effective HIV therapy, the virus can no longer be transmitted.”
HIV tests are available at the advice center for sexually transmitted infections and AIDS at the health department (www.leipzig.de/gesundheit) and at the Aidshilfe Leipzig (www.leipzig.aidshilfe.de) possible.
Events for World AIDS Day in Leipzig
- November 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m
aidshilfe leipzig (Ossietzkystraße 18, Leipzig)
“A lot helps a lot – which STI tests make sense?”: Specialist evening for World AIDS Day with information and discussions on testing offers and all questions about sexually transmitted infections - November 30, 2023, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m
aidshilfe leipzig (Ossietzkystraße 18, Leipzig)
Free WAT rapid test campaign HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C rapid tests, with an appointment on 0341 23159745 - December 1, 2023, 8:30 p.m
Passage Cinemas (Hainstr. 19a, Leipzig)
Film screening “Bohemian Rhapsody” and subsequent discussion with employees of Aidshilfe Leipzig, as part of the QueerBlick film series - December 5, 2023, 7 p.m
Cinematheque Leipzig (Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 109, Leipzig)
Film screening “Simply the End of the World” and subsequent discussion with employees of Aidshilfe Leipzig