If every HIV-Positive would be treated with antiretroviral agents, there would be no further infections, as the result of a British study. However, sexual doctors, Norbert Brockmeyer is skeptical.
Antiretroviral drugs save lives and help stop the spread of HIV.
Deutsche Welle: Herr Professor Brock, Meyer, you lead the centre for sexual health in Bochum, Germany. How do you assess a new study that indicates that HIV-positive homosexual men who regularly take their anti-retro viral medication to infect your Partner?
Norbert Brockmeyer: By anti-retro viral agent, and [they scored] a low viral load, we can reduce infection rates significantly. But we will not be able to due to the anti-retro viral therapy alone, a complete Disappearance of HIV. People need to test it first. Many do not, because they are afraid of. HIV is still a taboo and stigmatized.
The goal: in 2030, there is no Aids and more. What goals are in the near future is realistic?
To extend the life expectancy of those who receive good therapy, that is, what we can achieve. This must now be our goal. But we must not lose a different aspect from the eyes: The taboo associated with HIV and Aids, must also be wiped out, and then the HIV-therapy as an important factor. The only way we can make it.
What other conditions must we create?
Germany is a highly developed country, also with regard to the treatment of HIV. You can’t generalize but, not even for Europe. We have rates in Germany, the world is still the lowest infection.
We are open to deal with the topic and have been used many ways. The situation is different, for example, in Eastern Europe. The means have become affordable, but the entire political context must of course also fit.
So, there are still too many people who can not be treated, because they can’t afford it or for political reasons, for example because the issue of HIV is a major Stigma. We must not look at only the country, but we have to think globally. Therefore, the administration of antiretroviral agents is also no way to stop the HIV Situation as a whole.
More: “We need to take prevention much more seriously”
Norbert Brockmeyer: patients should be tested, so you know what to do.
What, in your view, is necessary to eliminate Aids?
One infectious disease to eradicate, really, only by a vaccination. But we have to just take a look at the Problem we have now with measles, or on the Problem that has just occurred in America, again: meningococcal infections, which can often be fatal. While we have a vaccine that people want to but from a legal question and is often not possible for demonstrable reasons not to vaccinate.
The risk that people will again have to deal carelessly with the issue of HIV because there are anti-retroviral agents?
We must be careful that we do not experience any risk compensation. There are in all areas. You are tempted to accept a higher risk. This is also true for infections. We have already seen that we had factors new protection that has led to a strong sense of security and in the end we had more infections than before.
But the combinations of Drugs that we have are so safe in the area of the therapy and suppress the Virus, that is a full protection. An undetectable viral load does not mean that the Person is not infectious and HIV is not.
Is the one who protected himself before a new HIV infection?
You can, of course, each time, in which the viral load is not equal to Zero, with a different HIV type infect, perhaps with drug resistance. Or, you can become infected with another sexually transmitted infection, Syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. This is one of the reasons why these infections increase.
Which means the possibility of anti-retroviral therapy for the Psyche of people Infected with HIV?
You will feel liberated. Some have also described it as: “Since I don’t know that I’m not contagious, I have become a completely different person. I can run just around like all the other and not have to Crouch to always be scared or to infect someone.” This is a huge success, and a strengthening of people who are HIV-positive.
How is your appeal?
All should dare to take the test, if only out of self-protection, because if I am treated, I have a life expectancy, which is associated with a high quality of life, and I’m going to infect any other people. This is great. The incentive to take the test, to overcome the inhibitions, that is supposed to be very big – for themselves and for others.
Professor Norbert Brockmeyer, the head of the centre for Sexual health and medicine at the Dermatological University hospital, Bochum, Germany.
The Interview was conducted by Gudrun Heise
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