Sidaction collected nearly 4 million euros this year. Enough to continue to support research against HIV, with promising results, but also prevention, especially for the youngest.
3,911,393 euros. This is the amount of pledges recorded by Sidaction 2023 at the end of its traditional fundraising weekend, on March 25 and 26, via the association’s website or by telephone on 110. That is slightly less than the last year, with 4 million euros. “We are very happys, welcomes the general manager of Sidaction, Florence Thune. Given the economic and social context, there were fears. But the generosity was there.”
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Forty years after the discovery of HIV (isolated by the Institut Pasteur), research and the fight against the infection remain a major challenge. The funds collected by Sidaction are donated to research and care programs as well as to associative programs to help people living with the virus. “In 2022 we funded 80 research projectsemphasizes Florence Thune. Here again, we see a great mobilization, especially among the younger generations. Indeed, 46 of these selected projects were led by young researchers.
HIV research advances
“Living with HIV is possible”, recalls in passing the general manager of Sidaction. Because research, thanks in particular to the evolution of triple therapies that appeared in 1996, today allows people carrying the virus to live a normal life, but also not to transmit the virus, which is then reduced to an undetectable quantity (undetectable = intransmissible !). Since December 2021, it is also possible to use an injection treatment every two months. Research, on the other hand, is still struggling to find a treatment or even a vaccine against HIV, with encouraging results in the long term.
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According to Public Health France, 5,023 people learned of their HIV status in 2021. A third of these discoveries were made at the AIDS stage of the disease. For Florence Thune, “We must above all focus our efforts on screening”. Because the health crisis has had a significant impact on their number, with a observed drop of 14% in 2020. Although pre-crisis levels have not yet been found, the Director General remains encouraging: “Since 2022, access to screening tests has been facilitated. It is possible to be tested free of charge and without a prescription in any medical analysis laboratory. We are hopeful to see the results quickly.”
Prevention, a major tool
Prevention remains a major tool. According to an IFOP survey for Sidaction, 43% of young people aged 15 to 24 are unaware of the existence of post-HIV exposure emergency treatment (TPE). “65% of young people surveyed do not know where they can get testedadds Florence Thune. This situation is not normal.” According to her, it is necessary to accentuate prevention campaigns among the population, but also to enforce the law on sexuality education sessions in schools, often in insufficient numbers. “It is for this reason that Sidaction has joined forces with SOS homophobia and Family Planning to file a complaint against the State”she adds.
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>> To make a donation to Sidaction, the association’s website remains open all year round. Until April 6, it is also possible to do so by telephone on 110, or by SMS on 92110.
Photo credit: Sidaction