Yasmina Kattou, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: SAMUEL KUBANI / AFP
modified to
7:16 a.m., December 1, 2023
In 2022, between 4,200 and 5,700 people discovered their HIV status, lower figures than in 2019. While these data are encouraging, HIV infections nevertheless remain high. And yet, in France, tools exist to achieve an HIV-free generation.
This Friday is World AIDS Day. With good news: despite increased screenings, the number of contaminations has decreased compared to 2019. The number of people who discovered their HIV status in 2022 was estimated between 4,200 and 5,700, numbers lower than those of 2019 (pre- covid). Also, the number of HIV-positive discoveries continues to decrease among men who have sexual relations with men born in France. So encouraging data. But HIV infections nevertheless remain high, yet we have all the tools in France to achieve an AIDS-free generation.
Train doctors and encourage screening
Today, two preventive measures are available in France: the condom obviously and pre-exposure prophylaxis called Prep. This treatment by tablet, to be taken before unprotected intercourse, has been delivered directly by general practitioners since last year. “We really have all the tools that would allow us to stop the epidemic dynamic,” underlines Sandrine Fournier, director of the Sidaction research center, who regrets that the taboo of sexuality persists even in doctors’ offices. “Doctors do not spontaneously address global issues of sexual health with their patients. However, various surveys show that they would like us to address these issues,” she says at the microphone of Europe 1.
We should therefore train doctors and, at the same time, encourage even more screening. “Screening is also a lever for stopping the dynamics of the epidemic since people under treatment do not transmit HIV,” assures Sandrine Fournier. As a reminder, HIV screening is free and the test can be done in all laboratories, without a prescription, and without an appointment.