Just a few decades ago, an HIV infection was tantamount to a death sentence. That has now changed, but AIDS is and will remain dangerous. The health department therefore went on the information offensive.
district – Petra Regauer from the health department of the district office and her colleagues know that only comprehensive information on how to protect yourself can prevent further spread of HIV diseases. Before the outbreak of the corona pandemic, large campaigns were organized regularly to draw attention to the topic of AIDS, reports Regauer, deputy head of department 60 – health promotion and prevention.
But because of the lockdowns, hygiene requirements and contact restrictions, major events have been unthinkable in recent years. “We were faced with the decision of whether to let another year pass or come up with something that would reach many people,” reports Regauer.
Online quiz lured with prizes and imparted a lot of knowledge at the same time
Alina Rohmer, social worker at the health department, had the brilliant idea. She developed an online quiz that was launched just in time for World AIDS Day on December 1st. Of course, a few prizes were also missing as an incentive for participation. “It wasn’t that easy to find companies that wanted to support the campaign,” Petra Regauer recalls, sounding a bit sad. Only at the drugstore dm was there an open ear. The company provided vouchers worth 500 euros. Later, the “Sonnendeck” café in Weilheim and the warehouse in Schongau also took part in the campaign by making prizes available.
And off we went. A total of seven questions had to be answered correctly on the homepage of the district office. The organizers were positively surprised by the response. A total of 358 people took part in the quiz, reports Regauer. Not only students, who were the main target group, but also quite a few adults. During the evaluation, it quickly became clear that education and prevention are sorely needed. Just 59 participants answered all questions correctly and were therefore entered into the lottery wheel.
Striking gaps in knowledge are revealed
“Many thought women could protect themselves and others by using the pill,” reports Petra Regauer in an interview with the local newspaper. That is of course wrong. Just as wrong as the statement that saliva is a contagious bodily fluid. “It is noticeable that this is sometimes even taught incorrectly in class,” reports Regauer. “It’s really terrible” that many would believe that you could get infected by kissing. And washing hands does not protect against HIV, even if many would wrongly assume it. In general, the need for information is great, so the conclusion after the quiz. Very few would have known that sexual intercourse with HIV-infected people can be safe if they are treated extensively.
Before the pandemic, the health department offered regular AIDS tests. That was not possible in the past few years, Regauer continued. From now on you can get tested again on Thursdays between 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. at Eisenkramergasse 11 in Weilheim.
Regular AIDS tests at the health department are now possible again
In the past few years, two HIV infections have been detected. Those affected were given extensive advice and referred to a practice in Munich specializing in HIV treatment, reports Petra Regauer. Because one thing is very important: “The earlier an HIV infection is detected and treated, the better the chances of the infected person for a normal life.”
A total of 32 vouchers were raffled off among all those who got all the questions in the quiz right – worth 100 euros for the three main winners, 20 or 30 euros vouchers for the others. The winners will be notified within these days.
Even more breaking news from the district of Weilheim-Schongau can be found at Merkur.de/Weilheim.
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