As part of this year's World AIDS Day, held on 1 December, Luxembourg is once again participating in an awareness campaign on early detection and treatment of the illness.

World AIDS Day 2019

This year, the focus will be more than ever on screening. By the end of 2018, 37,900,000 people were living with HIV worldwide, including 1,700,000 newly reported cases. Moreover, 770,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses occurred in 2018.

For its part, Luxembourg invests around 20% of its official development assistance in the area of ​​global health, including communicable diseases and universal health coverage. Since 2017, the country has also supported the UNAIDS Acceleration Strategy aimed at strengthening the national plans of the West and Central African countries, in order to reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets ( ie 90% of people aware of their HIV status, 90% of HIV-positive people on retroviral treatment and 90% of people on long-term viral load suppression) and to triple the number of people with access to quality treatment and health care.

To intensify the fight against AIDS and optimise efforts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a community-based approach based on prevention, detection and treatment. This should include facilitated access to rapid tests and self-tests, informing and raising awareness among target populations of the usefulness of HIV testing in risk situations, knowing one's HIV status in order to receive treatment quickly and promoting treatment monitoring which avoids serious complications. WHO added that antiretroviral therapy also reduces the risk of infecting others and helps stop the spread of the epidemic.

Nevertheless, these objectives are unlikely to be achieved by 2020, not least because some 20% of people living with HIV in Europe are unaware that they are infected. In addition, only 65% of people diagnosed with AIDS receive treatment, meaning that about one million people do not. There are also significant disparities among key populations, especially those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Consequently, there is a need to strengthen prevention efforts and community involvement to support and help those affected.

Luxembourg Context

In Luxembourg, the Ministry of Health has confirmed a noticeable decline in the number of new HIV infections. According to 2019 figures, it is estimated that 1,176 people are living with HIV in Luxembourg, of which 40 were newly infected. This represents a decrease from the 60 new cases in 2017 and 48 cases in 2018. The outbreak of the epidemic among intravenous drug users seems to have stopped. On the other hand, new infections among heterosexuals increased, while there was a slight decrease among homosexuals / bisexuals.

With regard to the 90-90-90 objectives, Luxembourg was among the best performing European countries in 2018, having diagnosed 85% of those infected. Moreover, 89.2% of those diagnosed received antiretroviral therapy, whilst 88.8% of people on treatment had an undetectable viral load.

Despite the decline in new infections, Luxembourg is continuing its prevention efforts by raising awareness of screening tests. In the absence of symptoms, HIV infection can only be detected by a screening test. Today, there are several ways to get tested for HIV: by a routine blood test in hospital or laboratory of course, but also by a rapid diagnostic test provided by the Red Cross. Since July 2019, an additional tool complements the existing screening options: the HIV self-diagnosis test, on sale in pharmacies and, since 23 November, in various stores across the country.

Events

Concerning events organised in Luxembourg as part of World AIDS Day 2019, the Red Cross' HIV Berodung service and Namur are teaming up for the first time to launch the "Love Baguette" initiative. Supported by the Ministry of Health, Love Baguette enables the public to buy a rod-shaped red ribbon, a symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV, for €2.20 in Namur stores in Luxembourg, from 22 November to 1 December 2019. For each baguette bought, Namur will pay €1 to the HIV Berodung service for its prevention activities. The packaging of the Love Baguette was designed by local artist Jacques Schneider. The Love Baguette will also be on sale on World AIDS Day itself at the HIV Berodung solidarity shelter, located at Roude Pëtz.

In addition, HIV Berodung is organising a Solidarity Brunch on 1 December 2019 at the Plëss restaurant in Hotel Place d'Armes. This brunch, open to all (if booked in advance), will take place in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Etienne Schneider, and will be an opportunity to share a supportive moment with actors in the field and people living with HIV. For every ten brunches purchased, the Plëss restaurant will offer a brunch to a person living with HIV in a precarious situation. The profits will be used to organise a recreational activity for beneficiaries of the HIV Berodung service. Reservations (until Saturday 30 November):  https://www.weezevent.com/brunch-solidaire-journee-mondiale-du-sida.

On Friday 29 November, some 100 secondary school students from across the country will participate in the 3rd edition of the awareness day jointly organised by the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), HIV Berodung and the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), with the support of the Ministry of Health. Students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops explaining the means of HIV transmission, treatment awareness and research. 

Friday will also mark the award ceremony of the "Preventive Art - Art on Poster" contest (exhibition until 6 December), organised by HIV Berodung with the support of artist Jacques Schneider. This competition invited secondary school students to create an HIV prevention poster. 30 projects were received, four of which were awarded and will be made into posters to be distributed in secondary schools in the country. The awards ceremony will be held at a small reception at 17:00 at the CHL. 

Finally, MUDAM is hosting a series of special events, organised as part of the exhibition "David Wojnarovicz". The screening of several films and videos, thematic activism against stigma and the fight against HIV / AIDS, accompanies conferences, discussions and a round table on the subject of the 90-90-90 targets are all on the agenda. Full programme: https://www.mudam.com/events/world-aids-day.