Credit: UNAIDS

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, held annually on 1 December, Luxembourg's authorities and the HIV Berodung service of the Luxembourg Red Cross have presented an overview of the situation in the Grand Duchy.

The number of new HIV infections in Luxembourg was down 20% in 2020 compared to 2019 and this number is identical to 1 December 2021, with 32 newly infected people and 75 people treated for the first time for this infection. This significant drop in the number of newly infected people is found across Europe and appears to be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and successive health restrictions. In fact, the number of screening tests fell by 20% on average for hospital laboratories in 2020 and still have not returned to "normal" in 2021, extending the delays towards diagnosis.

Community actions were particularly strongly impacted, slowing access to screening and treatment for the most vulnerable. As the newly released UNAIDS report shows, HIV infection curves are not falling fast enough to currently meet the goal of eradicating the disease. The rate of screening has been strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale.

Luxembourg's Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, emphasised: “World AIDS Day remains an opportunity to inform and raise awareness about HIV, its transmission routes and means of prevention, but also to strengthen solidarity with the people concerned through various actions and communications”.

The Luxembourg Development Cooperation Programme reiterated its commitment to the fight against HIV / AIDS, for instance through its support to multilateral organisations whose goal is to eradicate HIV / AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. Luxembourg has supported UNAIDS since its inception, with a particular focus on the fight in sub-Saharan Africa, where six out of seven new HIV / AIDS infections affect young girls between the ages of 15 and 24. To remedy this, UNAIDS launched the “Education Plus” initiative in partnership with four other UN agencies, namely UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and UNESCO. This initiative enables young girls to complete their secondary studies and thereby reduce the rate of contamination affecting this population while ensuring the economic emancipation of young women, by allowing them to successfully enter the labour market. The Luxembourg Development Cooperation Programme has also been supporting the efforts of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Moreover, at the end of November 2020, the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL) joined the “Fast-Track Cities” initiative, committing to act to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target (i.e. achieving 95% diagnosed among all people living with HIV, 95% on antiretroviral therapy among diagnosed and 95% virally suppressed among treated) in 2030, in particular by creating a framework and a range of services adapted to the people concerned, in collaboration with the state authorities and the various actors working in the medico-social field in the response against AIDS.

On 1 December, as part of World AIDS Day, the signing of the Paris agreements marking the official entry of the City of Luxembourg into the “Fast-Track Cities” initiative took place in the presence of Mayor Lydie Polfer, Alderman Maurice Bauer, Dr. Carole Devaux, President of the Luxembourg Surveillance Committee for AIDS, and representatives of grassroots associations involved in the response to HIV. 

Several actions are being organised in Luxembourg as part of this year's World AIDS Day. The Mobile HIV Rapid Screening Unit of the Luxembourg Red Cross carried out free and anonymous rapid screening tests on Wednesday afternoon at Luxembourg's Central Railway Station. Screening is also available in the premises of the HIV Berodung throughout the year, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00. 

Moreover, volunteers and employees of the HIV Berodung service distributed red ribbons to individuals and businesses again this year, as a symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV. This year, HIV Berodung launched a “Preventive Art” competition under the theme “Red Ribbon Fashion”. A dress, purse, jewellery or hat displaying or in the shape of a ribbon - these are some examples of the clothes and accessories that were made by secondary school students, individuals and artists as part of the competition. A total of 37 projects were submitted. These creations were evaluated by a jury made up of members of the HIV Berodung prevention service and the competition's sponsors. In addition to the projects awarded by the jury's vote, the public was invited to choose the winner of the competition on Facebook.

A solidarity evening is also taking place on Wednesday from 17:30. Organised by the HIV Berodung service in collaboration with Lycée Technique du Centre, in the presence of the Luxembourg's Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, this CovidCheck event includes a fashion show with students presenting the clothes and accessories created as part of the “Preventive Art" competition, followed by the presentation of prizes to the winners. The students will be assisted in the parade by Francis Hoven, first runner-up of Mister Luxembourg 2021, and Medusa Venom, Miss Drag Queen 2021. The evening will be hosted by Madame Yoko.