Hate speech is one of the most serious epidemics of the 21st century. It is all the more dangerous because it often strikes people infected with HIV and AIDS. Society's fear of such people and their stigmatization are the results of shortcomings in the area of education. Awareness that infected people can count on good care and do not pose a threat to others is still low in our country.
Pawel Mierzejewski: we need to raise public awareness about HIV and AIDS
Published March 23, 2023 11:48
According to the World Health Organization, there are nearly 38 million HIV-infected people in the world. In Poland, more than 13,500 people are on antiretroviral treatment. Importantly, a patient who is systematically treated does not infect others. As Pawel Mierzejewski, director of external relations, reimbursement and pricing at Gilead Sciences Poland (a manufacturer of medicines for HIV-infected people) notes, public awareness of access to prevention and treatment for infected people is still very low, a situation that has remained virtually unchanged for three decades.
- It is necessary to let the public know that an infected person, if treated, is not dangerous in any way. Poles have had a negative attitude toward HIV-infected people for many years. Social stigma is very acute and widely felt. A sizable part of the population also believes that the topic does not concern them and is limited only to at-risk groups. Meanwhile, in the context of HIV, people have long since stopped talking about risk groups. It is more common today to talk about risky sexual behavior, and these can affect any of us. Any intercourse with a person about whom we are not 100% sure that he is not infected, involves the risk of infection. Our company's activities are centered around educational campaigns, so that the level of public awareness of infectious diseases is getting higher. This is how we understand corporate social responsibility," says Pawel Mierzejewski.
It is worth recalling that the Government Health Policy Program Antiretroviral treatment of people living with HIV in Poland for 2022-2026 is currently in operation in Poland. The program covers all HIV-infected and AIDS patients residing on the territory of the country, regardless of insurance status. Antiretroviral treatment for people infected with HIV and AIDS has been carried out in Poland since 2001.
