2023-12-01 05:39:00
The Federal Office of Public Health BAG is recording an increase in HIV infections in 2022. This might be explained by the fact that more tests have been carried out. The BAG and Aids-Hilfe Schweiz are nevertheless convinced that the national goal of zero new infections by 2030 can be achieved – even though there is less money available.
In Switzerland, someone is still infected with the HIV virus every week. Last year, the Federal Office of Public Health counted 371 new infections. That is almost 50 cases or 14 percent more than in the previous year.
We have to watch very closely how this develops, says Andreas Lehner, managing director of Aids-Hilfe Schweiz, regarding the increase. «At the moment it is difficult to say whether this is an upward trend. We assume that the trend will continue to be downwards.”
More tests were carried out and therefore more new infections were detected.
The federal government is also not worried regarding the development, as Lucia Reh, project manager of the new national Stop AIDS program at the BAG, says. Although it is the case that reported HIV diagnoses for 2022 increased slightly compared to the previous year, the values were still below those before the Covid-19 pandemic. “In addition, more tests were carried out and of course more new infections were detected,” explains Reh.
An ambitious but achievable goal
The goal is ambitious. Nevertheless, both the BAG and Aids-Hilfe are convinced that it will be possible to reduce HIV infections to zero within seven years. That’s why the new Stop AIDS program should primarily target risk groups such as drug users, prisoners and prostitutes. In addition, younger people should increasingly be made aware of the risks of HIV infection.
Legend: The red ribbon is a symbol of solidarity with people infected with HIV and AIDS all over the world. Keystone/AP Photo/M. Lakshman
Andreas Lehner from Aids-Hilfe Schweiz welcomes the federal government’s commitment. But more financial resources are needed. Currently the opposite is the case. The federal government is providing significantly less money than before for the new national program once morest HIV and other infectious sexually transmitted diseases.
Aids assistance cannot fill this gap, says Lehner. Donation income fell – and despite efforts to increase it, it is not foreseeable whether more money can be generated from donations in the future.
Achieving more with less money – namely nothing less than eradicating the HIV virus. A Herculean task awaits the federal government and AIDS aid.
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