Despite the pandemic, the Free Information, Screening and Diagnosis of Infections Center (CeGIDD) at the Simone Veil Hospital Center in Blois is continuing its action to prevent AIDS and other infections. On January 5, it renewed its agreement with the AIDES Center Val-de-Loire association.
By Jean-Luc Vezon
This agreement is all the more necessary as HIV tests fell by 20% in 2020, making it impossible to benefit from preventive treatment (PrEP). “Risk-taking is increasing. The condom is no longer in fashion. This convention is all the more useful for reaching out to people at risk since COVID has had a negative impact on our actions ”, said Dr Camille Gerbaud, coordinating physician of GeGIDD.
The small team made up of a health executive, three nurses (including one at the CH Vendôme) and a secretary carried out 2,400 consultations in 2021 to which are added vaccinations (hepatitis A & B, papillomavirus). These meetings, which are always confidential, are intended for target audiences, that is to say people most at risk from an epidemiological point of view, to the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, HBV, HCV and other sexually transmitted infections. , in the health area.
Community health association with regional headquarters located at 166 rue de la barriere Saint-Marc in Orléans, AIDES aims to fight HIV / AIDS and viral hepatitis. AIDES carries out its actions exclusively with and within the communities most affected by the HIV / AIDS and hepatitis epidemic.
Olivier Servaire-Lorenzet’s universalist focus
While the words of President Macron who ” wants to piss off the unvaccinated » shocked part of the hospital community who wishes to continue to treat patients regardless of their vaccination status, Olivier Servaire-Lorenzet intervened forcefully: “ It is not an epidemic that will destroy several centuries of hospital values in the service of mankind. We want to treat without judging and for free. Discrimination is not acceptable. ”
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the CHB, Marc Gricourt, for his part, insisted on the importance of the prevention, screening and support missions provided by the public hospital: “This must be preserved for all audiences by working in partnership like this agreement with Aides, with whom we act in good understanding. ”