World AIDS Day 2022

This Thursday, December 1, we will celebrate World AIDS Day and serophobia.

Background

The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day, 1 December, UNAIDS is urging each of us to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.

The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS. These include:

• Increase availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention, so that everyone is well-served.
• Reform laws, policies and practices to tackle the stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalised populations, so that everyone is shown respect and is welcomed.
• Ensure the sharing of technology to enable equal access to the best HIV science, between communities and between the Global South and North.

Data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19 and other global crises, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result.

Four decades into the HIV response, inequalities still persist for the most basic services like testing, treatment, and condoms, and even more so for new technologies.

Only a third of people in key populations— including gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and prisoners—have regular prevention access. Key populations face major legal barriers including criminalisation, discrimination and stigma.

We have only eight years left before the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a global health threat. Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be addressed as a matter of urgency. In a pandemic, inequalities exacerbate the dangers for everyone. Indeed, the end of AIDS can only be achieved if we tackle the inequalities which drive it. World leaders need to act with bold and accountable leadership. And all of us, everywhere, must do all we can to help tackle inequalities too.

Luxembourg

In 2021, Luxembourg has 1161 people living with HIV and every year, unfortunately, there are new people who become infected with HIV. In the same year 2021, 50 new people were infected, compared to 33 recorded in 2020. The main modes of infection remain heterosexual and homosexual sex.

🆕 Screening for HIV, Syphilis and Hep C by quick tests
🕧 every Thursday form 12:30pm to 2:30pm
📍 Centre LGBTIQ+ CIGALE, 16, rue Notre Dame (2nd floor) L-2240 Luxembourg

✅ No appointements, ✅ free and ✅ anonymous.

Selftesting

Launched during the COVID-19 health crisis, a free HIV self-testing mail-in service is available by phone on 2755-4500 or by e-mail: hivberodung@croix-rouge.lu.

Know more about this service here

The day

On World AIDS Day on 1st December, events will take place across the world. These activities will be led not only by official bodies but also, most importantly, by communities.

In Luxembourg, HIV Berodung (from Luxembourgish Red Cross) organizes several events during the day:

• 7:30am - 9:30am at Luxembourg train station & Funiculaire in Kirchberg, free condom distribution
• 11:30am - 2:30pm in front of Delhaize Luxembourg Gare, DIMPS will do free screenings
• 12:30pm - 2:30pm at CIGALE (Luxembourg city), free screening too
• 5:30pm a vernissage of their art on condoms exhibition with our national talent, Madame Yoko as host at Bâtiment 4 à Esch-sur-Alzette.

All year long

At Bear Dukes Luxembourg, we are committed to work all year long with HIV Berodung, Luxembourgish red cross, CIGALE and other partners to inform you during our events, get our staff trained to talk about sex health topics and providing condoms at every major event we are organising, and self tests when possible.