Today, on World AIDS Day parts of Europe can say their fight against HIV and AIDS have reached the worldwide goal of UNAIDS 90-90-90 and have control of the infection rate and spread in other parts of Europe, we see severe lack of healthcare, and even increasing numbers of infections.
– We enjoy the positive development in parts of Europe, and strongly support national healthcare that reaches people infected by HIV regardless of the person’s economic, social, or ethnic background. The latter is important to avoid a new underclass of infected in minority and marginalised groups to develop, says Helge Ytterøy L’orange, president of the European Centre-Right LGBT+ Alliance.
Our Alliance recognises that further improvements to the health and social integration of people with HIV are needed to enable people with HIV in Europe to live longer, healthier lives and to contribute fully to society.
– It is particularly worrisome that late diagnosis of HIV is so common in Europe, with 47% of people newly diagnosed with HIV being diagnosed late leading to poorer health outcomes[1], and compounds our Alliance concerns over the rising infection numbers in parts of Europe, President L’orange explains.
The Alliance calls for an evaluation and renewal of the strategy to fight HIV and AIDS in the European countries covering and solving:
* New ways of treating and preventing HIV and AIDS
* Lack of comprehensive and available healthcare in several countries
* Stigma and harsh environment towards infected
* Persons living several decades, and growing old with HIV
* Multicultural infected persons suffering from double or triple stigmas
* New groups of infected among minorities and marginalised groups
– All of these tell us December 1st still is a very important day, and that the fight against the virus is far from over, L’orange states, and reaches out to the governments of Europe with three demands:
- Holistic approach: The Alliance calls upon all European governments to establish comprehensive healthcare strategies that address the long-term needs of people with HIV, including access to antiretroviral therapy, mental health support, and social services that address their unique needs.
- Prevention and screening: The Alliance call upon the European governments to develop effective HIV prevention strategies, including sexual education, accessible timely screening, access to PrEP and PEP, and management of coexisting conditions.
- Education and awareness: The Alliance call upon the European governments to support public education campaigns aimed at fostering understanding, whilst reducing the stigma associated with HIV.
For further information:
President Helge Ytterøy L’orange, helge@lorange.me, tel +47 90 277 255
