experts warn about not diagnosed cases of HIV infection in Spain.
December 1 is celebrated the World AIDS Day with the slogan universal access and human rights ”.
-despite the fact that the test for HIV is free and confidential in Spain, over 50% of new diagnoses they are late. Social rejection and ignorance are the main barriers for the diagnosis early
-in line with the World Health Organization (who) and the HIV platform in Europe, the HIV Spain Platform stresses the importance of early diagnosis and commitment to move towards preventiontreatment and support on HIV.
Madrid, November 2009- according to the latest report 2008 on the World AIDS epidemic from UNAIDS, the rapid expansion of access to treatment is saving lives, improving the quality of life, and helps rejuvenate households and whole societies. However, in Spain, although access to treatment is universal and free, there are between 130,000 and 150,000 people infected with HIV, 30% of them do not know, because no evidence has been.
On the occasion of the World AIDS Day, December 1, the HIV Spain platform experts stress the importance of early diagnosis, resulting essential for achieving the objectives of prevention and good patient care, as well as to curb the spread of this disease ”, indicates Dr. Josep Maria Gatell, Coordinator of the Spanish network of research in AIDS (RIS) and member of the platform.
The early diagnosis of HIV in Spain, blocked by the stigma
According to Dr Daniel Zulaika, President of SEISIDA and member of the HIV platform in Spain, each year carried out more than 3,000 new diagnoses of HIV infection in our country and however, the data are low, as there are many cases unknown more ”. As to cases of AIDS, only in 2008 were diagnosed in 1.283 Spain new cases, with what the number of reported cases in our country is situated in 77.231. The Ministry of health and Social policy studies indicate that 25% of infected persons to know their HIV status is responsible for 54% of new infections.
Despite the fact that in our country the diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection is totally free for the entire population, and furthermore is carried out with total guarantee of confidentiality, population not going to get tested. Stigma, discrimination, fear, or inadequate access to healthcare are likely to be the main barriers to early diagnosis in Spain and in other countries of our socio-cultural characteristics.
Although it has declined in recent years, people with HIV continue to perceive discrimination in different areas of your life and in addition, fear the affirmative response of the health care provider when you imagine a life with HIV. What most don’t know is, fortunately we have universal coverage that allows that HIV has become a chronic process and the concerns of the person concerned are the same as any chronic patient of their age and sex ”, indicates the doctor Zulaika.
According to the latest report 2008 on the World AIDS epidemic from UNAIDS, all countries must ensure strict compliance with anti-discrimination measures to protect persons living with HIV. However, a third of the countries lacked laws to protect them against discrimination. is very important to ensure that the population at risk do not be afraid to do the test to get an early diagnosis ”, concludes Dr. Zulaika.
The prevention of HIV in Spain insufficient
The relaxation of the population with regard to prevention of HIV in Spain is increasing cases of infections. According to the HIV Spain platform, and along the lines of who promote interventions preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic are basic actions to improve the control of the HIV epidemic. It is necessary to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, and it is also improving training for professionals in the health of primary and specialized care aiming for to know identify factors of individual risk or clinical indicators to recommend request (opt-out) HIV diagnostic tests ”, says Dr. Jorge of the Guerrero Romero, director of Centre health Sandoval, one of the main clinics specializing in STI sexual of the community of Madrid and Member platform HIV in Spain.
On Spain HIV: together for an early diagnosis ”
The Conference HIV in Spain 2009: together for an early diagnosis ” was attended by leading health professionals, associations of patients, NGOs and policy-makers involved in tackling HIV in our country in order to raise awareness and sensitize the population and workforce of the need for an early diagnosis. The Conference followed the steps of the initiative held on 26 and 27 November 2007 in Brussels where, low motto HIV in Europe 2007: Working Together for Optimal Testing and Earlier Care ”, gathered the greatest European professionals in this area. Following the success of the Conference held last January 20 in Madrid, in 2009 has been the creation of the platform Spain HIV: together for an early diagnosis ”, whose objective is to continue to promote actions aimed at early detection of HIV and social awareness against the disease.
The Committee of experts of the initiative consists of Teresa Robledo, Secretary of the Plan national AIDS, Ministry of health and Social policy; Josep M. Gatell, Coordinator of the Spanish network of research on AIDS (RIS); Daniel Zulaica, President of the interdisciplinary Spanish society of AIDS (SEISIDA); Romero Jorge, Coordinator of the Centre health Sandoval of the community of Madrid and Vice President of the Foundation for training and information about treatments in the field of HIV (FIT); Bonaventura Clotet, head of the unit of AIDS the Hospital Universitario Germans Trias I Pujol of Badalona; Santiago Moreno, Chief of the service of infectious diseases at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid; Fernando Lozano, President of GESIDA; Ferrán Pujol, Director of Hispanosida; José Fernández-Quero, Manager of CESIDA; Antonio Antela, Vice President of SEISIDA and Mercedes Diez, National Plan on AIDS.
