The HIV epidemic is spreading in our country! During the European Week of Testing, a red bow displayed on the streets of Warsaw is a reminder of this.
The year 2022, with 2384 newly diagnosed HIV infections, was a record year for Poland. It was, but no longer is, as the current year will close with a higher number. By mid-November alone, 2590 infections were reported. How many will be final at the end of the year? We will find out in a few months. And how many people living with HIV are still unaware of their infection? We may never know. And yet, everyone who knows that he or she is living with HIV and accepts treatment free of charge in Poland can stay healthy and live normally until old age. That is why it is worth getting tested, which will be reminded on 29 November by a red bow with the inscription "Together against HIV" displayed on the facades of buildings in Warsaw. It is a happening organised by the Polish Humanitarian Aid Foundation 'Res Humanae' and Gilead Sciences.
"This is the eighth such action organised on the eve of World AIDS Day, which, as every year, will be celebrated on 1 December. In this way, the Polish Humanitarian Aid Foundation 'Res Humanae' and Gilead Sciences want to remind people how important HIV tests are. Such a test should be carried out especially after so-called risky behaviour, for example sex without a condom. And this should be done all year round, not just on the occasion of European Testing Week, which this year falls between 20 and 27 November," said Mateusz Liwski, president of Gilead Sciences. - said Mateusz Liwski, president of 'Res Humanae'.
Dorota Stobiecka from 'We, Parents - an association of mothers, fathers, and allies of LGBTQIA people - argues that HIV is not something to be ashamed of: 'Thanks to winning the Positively Open competition, we have held a number of workshops on HIV and AIDS this year. The recordings are available at myrodzice.org. We have fought and continue to fight the myth that still persists that non-heteronormative people are the main group at risk of HIV infection. This is not true! HIV can affect anyone. In addition to reporting on the workshop, I also recommend the booklet we edited on the basis of the workshop and which will also soon be available on our website, answering the question "Should you be afraid of HIV?".
"HIV is one of many chronic diseases today. Anyone who gets tested and, if positive, accepts treatment free in Poland can live with it normally. There is no question of developing AIDS, you can have healthy children and be sure that you will not infect your partner, because the person on treatment becomes non-infectious over time. This is why we encourage HIV testing year after year by displaying bowsers in many cities. We have already been in Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Wrocław, Toruń. This year, we are again in Warsaw. We joined forces with 'Res Humanae' in this action, because we believe that only by acting together with doctors and NGOs can we stop HIV," concluded Paweł Mierzejewski of Gilead Sciences, coordinator of the Positively Open programme.