The campaign, which carries the slogan "Dignity, solidarity and commitment" with the fundamental rights of people with AIDS, aims to raise awareness in order to not lower the alert and permanently maintain the necessary precautions so that this epidemic does not continue to spread.
In Spain, although mortality caused by HIV has decreased, thanks to different treatments, (approximately 1,500 people die annually from HIV), it is estimated that there are about 3,500 infections per year. From the Faro Positivo Association they emphasize that "the number of sexually transmitted infections is increasing", which they consider a "worrying indicator" about the practice of safer sex.
During the reading of the commemorative manifesto of World AIDS Day, which has been held in 64 Spanish cities this Friday, December 30, as a prelude to December 1, the education for health and sexual affection, the right to health care without differences, equal conditions for people with HIV deprived of liberty when receiving specific assistance, equality in access to work for the sick, review and improvement of policies aimed at the migrant population in terms of prevention and assistance of HIV, among others, have been claimed.
Rejection and discrimination
On the other hand, according to the Faro Positivo Manifesto, which was read by the Minister of Health of the Cabildo, Joaquín Caraballo, recent studies show that "rejection and discrimination continue, since there is still much prejudice and stigma that derives in systematic discrimination against those affected, together with the sufferings of the disease itself." This reverts to the concealment of the disease, something very negative since "fear can influence the delay of diagnosis that promotes the spread of infection", they say.
The project "Don't stay in the clouds", says Raúl Chamizo, social worker of Faro Positivo, is born to raise awareness and remind the population what are the mechanisms of transmission and which are not. According to Chamizo, "of every three people, two do not want to share a workplace, home or studies with a person who is HIV-positive", so he stressed the importance of distinguishing between contagion and transmission and request to change the qualification of HIV infection, considered "infectious contagious", to "infectious transmissible". "HIV is not a disease that is contagious like a cold, it is transmitted and the transmission mechanisms are only three: from infected mother to child (if you do not have treatment because you can also be born without the disease), injectable drug users who share syringes with infected people or with the practice of unsafe sex".
Diagnosis
The importance of diagnosis is fundamental to avoid further spread of the disease. Therefore, from the Association they advise that "if in doubt, go to perform the relevant test consulting with the family doctor who will refer you to the General Hospital, where they are performed here in Lanzarote. In addition, the Center "Calor y Café", which is located next to the Insular Hospital, performs the test together with Doctors of the World at the moment.
