HIV in Greece is still a taboo. The fear of discrimination is large. Victims and activists are sounding the Alarm. You don’t want to hide any longer and call for an open dialogue.
“HIV? What can I say?”, a 23-year-old Student from Athens, answers the question, what does he know about the HI-Virus. Although he laughs enter and it is obviously difficult to comment on the issue, he waits patiently for the blood to quickly test the Association ‘Checkpoint’ offers in the centre of the Greek capital. Volunteers with the red T-Shirts in the pedestrian zone, press, passers-by flyers in the Hand, and invite you to have a test – free of charge, anonymously, and with immediate result.
About 15,000 people in Greece living with a diagnosis of HIV. The small prick of the Finger, the Test is necessary, above all: safety. Because only those who have a diagnosis, can be treated accordingly and in the case of sexual contact with the Partner to protect. That this is happening in Greece is still far too rare, for Kostis Chatzimorakis, Director of the Association ‘Kentro Zois’ (centre of life) lack of information: “When you hear the word HIV or AIDS, produced in Greece is still afraid of everything. You can only combat it with education and Knowledge.”
Training is also needed in Doctors
Clubs, devoted to the issue of HIV and AIDS, want to encourage more people to get tested – with success. A good 30 percent of all new HIV diagnoses now come from the two offices of the Checkpoint in Athens and Thessaloniki. The 28-year-old Rafael has learned that he is HIV positive. “It was a shock of course, but the staff are specially trained and can also assist psychologically.”
Kostis Chatzomorakis: “The word AIDS produced in Greece still fear”
In previous Tests, in government hospitals, he said he felt, however, often intimidated: “When I said that I want to let me go for HIV test, they looked at me funny and asked: Why? What have You done? That was traumatic. “Such deferred school your flößungen had it not been for the Checkpoint. On The Contrary. “I’m here, been informed before the Test. I had to get used to the diagnosis, but I knew immediately what to do.”
Meanwhile, the science is so wide that a person with HIV can lead to appropriate treatment to live a normal life. Positive women can have children without the Virus being transmitted to the fetus. The sometimes violent side effects of the first therapy trials in the 1990s, is no longer a Problem today. Despite this progress, many of those Affected feel in Greece by their Doctors discriminated against. And that has consequences. “If there is between the doctor and the Patient do not trust, then you don’t tell him the truth. This can be dangerous, for example if he gets then medication can be administered in combination with HIV treatment side effects,” explains Rafael.
Enlightenment, but how?
For Kostis Chatzimoraki the main task of Kentro Zois is the current state of the science comprehensively and well understandable. “It’s not that the people know, but to learn that you have anxiety. But why are people afraid of? We need to understand. Because, if one knows ten basic things about HIV, then you begreitft: I do not need to fear me.”
The dark number of people Infected with HIV in the country is high
Kentro Zois is aimed not only at people with HIV or AIDS, but to all that deal with the topic. They provide free of charge psychological, medical and legal assistance. “It is also important to the environment, involve in most of the cases, the families. Some sign from us, because they want to help the Affected, but not know how.” This is unfortunately not always the case.
On the website of Kentro Zois, the Association also explains some with humorous Videos. “We don’t want to stand there with the raised index finger and people in the middle. Not likely you will deal with this at all.” It is important also that young people educate. The majority of infections are registered in the age group between 20 and 30 years. In particular, young men do not want to protect themselves during Sex. “We have found in the last few years, the 66,000 students in schools across the country about HIV and about living with HIV will be discussed,” reported Chatzimoraki. For the fight against the for all people a dangerous Sitgmatisierung of the disease an essential step.
Stigma and exclusion
For those who live with the Virus, the lack of disclosure fatal consequences. The Attached exclusion is enormous. “Still, people with HIV lose their jobs, because has a completely unjustified fear, that the person infects his colleagues,” criticized Chatzomorakis. The legal Department of Kentro Zois edit a whole series of such cases.
Rafael Bilidas is one of the few Affected, speak openly about the disease
2013 issued by the then Minister of health Adonis Georgadis a decree, with which the police were able to make, in its discretion, hunting on potentially HIV-Positive in the red light district. Then, it came to arrests. Those who were actually positive, were published with a photo and name in the newspaper. Some of the media stigmatized and calculated that it was between these women to sexual contacts with about 4000 men. No word from the responsibility of a Free self, to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Under the present government, this discrimination no longer takes place. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the HIV lives hidden Positive and to be in fear of being discovered. Only a few Affected individuals, such as Rafael, dare to talk openly about their life with the Virus. It was time to finally show face in the media. Previously, you would have filmed HIV-Positive only anonymous, but have the Stigma only intensified. “The science has made the issue of HIV and AIDS, great progress. It is time that society follows. Therefore, it is important that we talk openly about HIV and living with HIV.”