World Aids Day 2024

[Jim]

I'm not sure if any of you have plans for today?

This year, I'll be visiting the AIDS memorial where there will be a ceremony in the afternoon.

POZ.com quick guide to activities, memorials, statistics, social media posts and more. https://www.poz.com/article/world-aids-day-2024


2023 Globally:

• An estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV
• 630 000 [500 000–820 000] people died from HIV-related causes
• 86% [69–>98%] of people living with HIV knew their status.
• 77% [61–89%] of people living with HIV were receiving ART.
• 72% [65–80%] of people living with HIV had suppressed viral loads.

2023 EU & WHO European Region.

• 112 883 HIV diagnoses were reported, including 24 731 from the EU.
• Late HIV diagnoses (CD4 < 350 cells), 52.4%, EU 52.7%
• AIDS diagnoses 7878, EU 2690
• AIDS-related deaths 2775, EU 663*

*Data was affected by under-reporting due to the challenges in many countries in linking to death registries.

Source: WHO & ECDC

[Jim]

[Jim]

So attended the "Gathering to Remember" facilitated by HIV Ireland at the monument.

I had not planned to speak but they asked if anyone wanted to say some words so I did I have spoken at countless HIV events but I struggled this time.

My main points were AIDS isn't over, too many are still dying of "classic" AIDS and it is underreported within the EU, now even if you do survive or are just living with HIV, the mental health aspect is a real challenge with far too little support or care resulting in lose of lives, a lot of young men, the cause has changed but they are still dying and it makes me sick.

 

[leatherman]

Thank you for speaking up at this event. Even when you plan not to speak at these kinds of events, once you do a few times, it's hard to not do it again and again. No matter how much advocacy, funding, outreach or education happens, there's always more that's needed... and people who need to be reminded of those needs.

if you do survive or are just living with HIV, the mental health aspect is a real challenge with far too little support or care resulting in lose of lives, a lot of young men, the cause has changed but they are still dying

the biggest problem is that the lack of mental health is simply a problem for everyone and people like us (living with a serious illness needing long term health care and medication) have a bigger need for mental health care. There's a lot of trauma that comes with an HIV diagnosis and then on through living with the disease. This comes on top of your other traumas of family, coming out, stigmas, drugs, prior mental health issues, homelessness, etc. There are too many people who have passed away by their own hand than from the HIV, and that should be unacceptable to all us. That's a great reason to rile people up about the problem every chance we get.
 

[Jim]

I feel we have become tame. We need to start making noise again, AIDS isn't over, U=U doesn't fix that and those that live have a whole new set of challenges.