Update

Renewal of HIV prevention activities needed in Poland

10 December 2013

At the 20th Polish National Conference for people living with HIV on 2 December 2013, government and civil society leaders highlighted the need for a renewal of HIV prevention activities if Poland is to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. 

This event, organized in Warsaw by the Res Humanae Foundation in collaboration with National AIDS Center, was also held to mark World AIDS Day 2013 and 20 years of the National AIDS Programme in Poland.

Speaking at the event, Dr Igor Radziewicz-Winnicki, Undersecretary of State for Health, reiterated Poland’s commitment to ending its AIDS epidemic as well as continuing its solidarity and collaboration with neighbouring countries. UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Dr Luiz Loures congratulated Poland for scaling up access to antiretroviral treatment and highlighted the increasing concern across Europe at growing rates of new HIV infections among key populations particularly among men who has sex with men.

New HIV infections have risen in Eastern Europe and Central Asia by 13% since 2006. In Western Europe men who have sex with men represent 42% of all diagnosed HIV cases, and have increased by 6% from 2006 to 2012.

Dr Loures called for greater European solidarity and underscored UNAIDS’ commitment to strengthening its collaboration with Poland and other countries in Europe. He said UNAIDS would support countries in raising political visibility and mobilising communities to address stigma and discrimination and ensure access to HIV services for people most affected by the epidemic.

Quotes

“Ending the AIDS epidemic is possible and should be the vision for the future”

Undersecretary of State for Health of Poland, Dr Igor Radziewicz-Winnicki

“To end AIDS we have to act as a team. Ending AIDS is a team discipline and there is a concrete role for every player”

Dr Anna Marzec-Boguslawska, Director National AIDS Council Poland

“Ending AIDS will not be possible if we are leaving anybody behind. We must do better to ensure access to HIV services for all and to achieve the goal of zero discrimination.”

Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme