This week, from 21 to 27 November, Amsterdammers can pick up a free HIV self-test at various places. In addition, it is possible to have a free test at the GP until the end of the year.
The initiative is from the Amsterdam GGD and the municipality and is all about the European Testing Week. It calls for extra attention to the stigma and importance of testing for HIV. Amsterdam has expressed its ambition to reduce the number of HIV infections in the city to zero by 2026.
To prevent
According to the health service, that goal can be achieved if people who have contracted HIV are diagnosed in time, so that they can be prevented from passing the virus on to others.
At the moment, 150 Amsterdammers are still infected with HIV every year. Most infections occur in men who have sex with men, transgender people and the undocumented. According to the GGD, other well-known target groups, such as sex workers or people who inject drugs, have already succeeded in stopping HIV infections.
Stigma
The GGD also conducted research into the stigma surrounding HIV. This would show that the prejudices can lead to fear of not being able to get a job or fear of being left by the partner. Straight men also do not get tested because they think the virus only occurs among men who have sex with men.
The self-tests can be picked up at various corona vaccination locations in the city. You can have a test taken during a consultation with your GP.
PrEP
The municipality has already announced that it will invest 250,000 euros in PrEP treatments over the next two years to prevent an HIV infection. This means that 200 people can currently receive such treatment. It will not eliminate the waiting list for the drug by a long shot: 1600 people are currently waiting for the medication.