122,000 unaware of HIV infection in Europe

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said it is estimated there are some 122,000 in Europe living with HIV who are unaware of their infection and keep on transmitting it to others. Dr Sant, adressing the ‘HEPHIV 2017 CONFERENCE’, said countries need to live up to their commitment to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 and emphasised that on this there is no room for complacency. Almost 30,000 newly diagnosed HIV infections have been reported by the European Union and European Economic Area countries in 2015. This is similar to the observed notification trends in the last decade. This high incidence of infection confirms the persistence of the HIV epidemic in our societies.
The Maltese MEP said viral hepatitis could be emerging as a larger public health issue than HIV. It remains a silent epidemic. Many living with viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected, placing them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications from the disease.
“We need to encourage increased testing especially among key populations who are more at risk. It is still not easy for individuals to take the test. There is fear about the result, especially among high risk groups. We have come a long way in the management of HIV. Effective treatment is now available. A positive result is no longer a death sentence but a path to lifelong treatment. In fact, today we talk of people living with HIV just as we talk of people living with diabetes. But still the stigma persists. Many believe that HIV infection is a self-inflicted shame. We need to fight that stigma.” remarked Dr Sant.
The Maltese MEP said the massive expansion of antiretroviral therapies has reduced the global number of people dying from HIV-related causes. Yet here too, prices remain very high, placing a burden on the health authorities as they strive towards universal treatment and an end to the epidemic. People who test positive need the full support of a professional team including psychological support. We need to develop enhanced tests which are fast, reliable and affordable.

Maltese Version – 122,000 INFETTATI BL-HIV FL-EWROPA BLA MA JAFU

Huwa stmat li 122, 000 persuna fl-Ewropa huma infettati bl-HIV mingħajr ma jafu u jinfettaw persuni oħra. Dan qalu l-Ewroparlamentari Malti Alfred Sant meta indirizza l-Konferenza “HEPHIV 2017” waqt li saħaq li l-pajjiżi għandhom jimxu mal-wegħda tagħhom li jtemmu l-epidemija tal-AIDS sal-2030. “Ma hemmx post għall-kompjaċenza dwar dan.” qal Dr Sant. Madwar 30,000 każ ta’ infezzjonijiet ġodda tal-HIV ġew irrapportati mill-Unjoni Ewropea u mill-pajjiżi taż-żona Ekonomika Ewropea fl-2015. Din l-informazzjoni taqbel mal-osservazzjonijiet li saru fl-aħħar diċenju. L-inċidenza għolja tikkonferma l-persistenza tal-epidemija tal-HIV fis-soċjetajiet tagħna.
Dr Sant qal li l-virus tal-Ħepatite huwa theddida għas-saħħa pubblika aktar mill-HIV. Din il-marda għadha qed tikkawża epidemija silenzjuża. Ħafna minn dawk li jgħixu bil-virus tal-ħepatite ma jafux li huma infettati. Dan jitfagħhom f’riskju akbar għal komplikazzjonijiet severi, anki fatali, tal-marda.
“Irridu ninkoraġġixxu aktar testijiet speċjalment fost il-popolazzjonijiet li huma l-aktar f’riskju. Għadu mhux faċli biex l-individwi jagħmlu t-testijiet. Hemm il-biża’ tar-riżultat, speċjalment f’dawk il-gruppi ta’ nies li huma l-aktar f’riskju. Imxejna ’l quddiem ħafna fl-immaniġjar tal-HIV. Issa hawn trattament effettiv. Riżultat pożittiv ma jfissirx sentenza tal-mewt imma jfisser ħajja ta’ trattamenti. Illum nitkellmu fuq persuni li jgħixu bl-HIV l-istess bħal kif nitkellmu fuq persuni li jgħixu bid-dijabete. Iżda l-istigma għadha tippersisti. Ħafna jaħsbu li l-HIV hija marda li persuna ġġib fuqha nnfisha. Irridu niġġieldu din l-istigma.” qal Dr Sant.
L-Ewroparlamentari Malti qal li t-tkabbir massiv ta’ terapiji ‘antiretroviral’ naqqsu n-numru globali ta’ nies li jmutu b’kawżi relatati mal-HIV. Iżda hawn ukoll, il-prezzijiet għadhom għoljin ħafna. Dawn jikkawżaw piż kbir fuq l-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa fil-ħidma għal trattament universali tal-marda u t-tmiem tal-epidemija. Il-persuni li jinsabu pożittivi għat-test għandhom bżonn l-appoġġ sħiħ ta’ tim professjonali li jinkludi appoġġ psikoloġiku. “Irridu niżviluppaw testijiet li jagħtu riżultati aktar malajr, b’inqas flus u li wieħed jista’ joqgħod fuqhom”, qal Dr Sant.