AMSTERDAM (ANP) – The corona pandemic also affects the fight against HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS. Almost three quarters of all current HIV testing programs and more than half of all treatment programs have been seriously disrupted by corona, the Aidsfonds concluded.
According to the fund, the number of HIV infections is increasing in large parts of the world. The combination with the corona virus has “a disastrous effect on the global AIDS fight”, says the Aidsfonds. For example, the HIV testing locations are currently mainly busy testing people for infection with the corona virus. Testing for HIV in people at home is a lot more difficult than before. As a result, fewer HIV cases are detected, which increases the likelihood that people will infect others unsuspectingly, or that their infection will be discovered too late to save them. In addition, HIV patients sometimes do not dare to go to a hospital or a clinic for fear of corona.
Director Mark Vermeulen states: “The tremendous progress that we have made combined in 40 years of AIDS response is now being mercilessly slowed down. The supply and availability of life-saving HIV drugs has been seriously compromised in many countries.”
The Aidsfonds comes with its warning because it is World AIDS Day on Tuesday. Currently, approximately 38 million people worldwide suffer from HIV.
–
– .
