HIV/AIDS
34 million people worldwide have HIV/AIDS. In 2010, 2.7 million people were newly infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and 1.8 million people died from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Infected people – almost 23 million – live almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa and most of them are between 15 and 24 years old (more >).
HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights are closely connected. In both cases prevention plays a leading part. DSW provides contraceptives and information about sexual and reproductive health and rights. We help during and after pregnancy, offer treatments for sexual transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and empower women and girls to make them less vulnerable.
Thus, even more can be done by bringing together political authorities in European and international conferences and workshops. In our advocacy work, we direct political and public attention to signed contributions as well as to commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
DSW Berlin: For a consistent German Commitment against HIV/AIDS
- Bild: twicepix, CC-Lizenz BY-NC-SA 2.0
DSW advocates integrated commitment in favour of Sexual and Reproductive Health and against HIV/AIDS. We call for a stronger commitment of the German government with regard to the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 4, 5 and 6). The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has in past years proven to be a central instrument in the fight against HIV/AIDS. To this end, we wish to strengthen this instrument and are working towards a consistent German contribution.
As a member of Action Against Aids Germany and together with other non-governmental organisations we are promoting increased commitment of Germany in the field of HIV/AIDS, the focus again being on the German contribution to the Global Fund. Under this commitment, we have organised various activities such as a joint action with MPs in front of the Federal Chancellery.
As the German partner of the alliance Action for Global Health (AfGH) DSW participates in the international efforts to achieve MDG 6. Furthermore, as a cooperation partner of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) we support the promotion of AIDS vaccines and microbicides.
In close consultation with our East African country offices and based on the experiences from our own development projects we always keep track of local needs.
