CHECK Magazin - Gesundheitsmagazin für Männer No.9

Community
ENGLISH
WAR, COVID AND HIV
For the first time in a long time, specialists met again as part of the Munich AIDS and
COVID days. Even if faces were still covered by masks, there was still a great deal of
enthusiasm about working together and making progress again.
PATIENT DATA ON HIV AND COVID
The Infection Protection Act (IfSG) that came
into force at the beginning of the pandemic
has undoubtedly divided our society. But
during the congress the main question was
what could be learned from the last few
years. With regard to data security and patients‘
obligation to provide information, it has
become clear that one cannot simply transfer
the regulations for one infectious disease to
any other. Silke Klumb, Managing Director of
the Deutsche Aids-Hilfe (DAH), noted in the
opening speech that “in the healthcare system
employees (...) are asked about their HIV
status or requested HIV tests with reference
to §23a IfSG – including all employees, from
cleaning staff to head doctor.”
This was followed by an appeal to all participants
that informational self-determination,
medical confidentiality and caution with
sensitive data are indispensable.
HELP FOR REFUGEES
The Ukraine crisis was also a focus. Among
the refugees there are also people with HIV
or those who need substitution therapy and
drug help services. Many cannot flee at all
and locally need medication such as ART,
hormone therapies, substitution drugs. An
unbureaucratic aid campaign, organised by
DAIG and dagnä, has already been able to provide
funds, and the DAH website also offers
the possibility of making donations and thus
helping these particularly vulnerable people.
MORE PREP OUTSIDE OF
METROPOLITAN AREAS
An evaluation by the RKI released shortly before
the congress indicated that PrEP works
and prevents infections with HIV. However, it
also points out that not all people who could
use PrEP know about it and receive it. “This
is also because it can be difficult for people
outside of metropolitan areas to get hold of
PrEP,” says Silke Klumb. “Not every city has
one or enough practices that prescribe PrEP.
Therefore, we urgently need to work together
to ensure that more medical facilities can
offer PrEP.”
(ts)
In the seminars, lectures and expert
panels, a number of relevant points
for the health of our community were
addressed. The complete program of the
18th Munich AIDS and COVID Days 2022
is available on the organizer's website
www.sv-veranstaltungen.de.
8 CHECK BERLIN #9