World AIDS Day: the Government’s commitments to fight HIV

On the occasion of the 32nd World AIDS Day which took place this Tuesday, December 1, 2020, the government took stock of the situation relating to screening for AIDS and other STIs in France. The authorities have also announced the implementation of concrete actions. Here’s what to remember.

According to the government press release relating to the 32nd World AIDS Day, epidemiological data from Public Health France show that the trend is towards an increase in screening activity for HIV with an increase in 6% between 2018 and 2019. In addition, screening for other STIs such as syphilis, gonococcal infections and Chlamydia trachomatis has also experienced a steady increase since 2017.

However, the first data for the year 2020 show an inversion of the curves since the activity of screening for HIV and STIs fell by nearly 60% between February and April. A fuck of the screenings that would be caused by the confinement linked to the Covid-19 epidemic. As the level of screening activity has not returned to that before the crisis, Olivier Véran reminded that “ the COVID-19 epidemic must not make us forget the other fights, and foremost of which the fight against HIV “.

• The experimentation of 4 sexual health centers: since December 1, 2020, the Info Sida Toxicomanie Kiosk in Paris, as well as 3 other sexual health centers based in Lyon (Griffon), Marseille (Spot Longchamp) and Montpellier (Spot) have opened in order to facilitate access to screening and treatment.

• The expansion of skills to new health professionals: in order to strengthen access to screening for all for HIV and STIs in general, nurses and midwives will now be able to carry out the screening activity. ” This development will be deployed as part of cooperation protocols as soon as they are validated by the Haute Autorité de Santé in the first half of 2021. »Says the press release.
• The evolution of prescription methods for anti-retroviral treatments: according to the government, the preventive effect of anti-retroviral treatments (such as “HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis”, more simply called PrEP) is still too little known and accessible. While they require a first prescription in the hospital sector, the government has decided to change these prescription methods. For that, ” the Council of State has received a draft decree allowing the first-time prescription of PrEP by town doctors, and which should make it effective from the start of 2021 “.
• The development of a therapeutic coordination apartment intervening in the person’s place of life: intended for people suffering from chronic diseases including HIV and presenting a situation of social and psychological fragility requiring medical follow-up, the therapeutic coordination apartments (ACT) offer support relating to health, procedures and the path of integration of patients . The government plans within the framework of the Ségur of health to reserve 10 million euros ” to strengthen the role of ACTs in supporting the most vulnerable sick people, by allowing them to develop their support in the person’s place of life, whatever it may be “.