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Paris (AFP) – The Sidaction association collected 4 million euros in pledges for the fight once morest AIDS during its traditional annual fundraising weekend, an amount slightly lower than last year.
“Donors have been there despite the very busy news, they have already shown great mobilization and generosity vis-à-vis Ukraine,” the director general observed on Sunday with AFP. by Sidaction, Florence Thune.
Last year, the association collected almost 4.5 million euros in pledges during its fundraising weekend, an amount almost equivalent to its 2019 record (4.5 million euros).
This year, the event was launched on Thursday evening with the broadcast of a clip on the 33 partner media. A special musical program was broadcast on Saturday evening on France 2.
At present, the Sidaction association considers that the risk of a resumption of the HIV epidemic is “alarming” due in particular to a “drop in screenings” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This drop in screening means that more people do not know their HIV status, which means that there is a greater risk of contamination”, specifies Ms. Thune.
Furthermore, the war in Ukraine might contribute to a subsequent resurgence of the HIV epidemic in the region.
“Ukraine is one of the most affected countries in Eastern Europe. It had made a lot of effort in recent years, but we know how devastated the health system will be” by the war, explains Florence Money.
The funds collected by Sidaction will go to research and care programs as well as associative programs for prevention and aid to patients in France and abroad, indicates the association.
According to the latest UNAIDS report, 37.7 million people worldwide are living with HIV and 680,000 people died in 2020 of AIDS-related illnesses.
In France, 173,000 people are living with HIV.
© 2022 AFP
