“2,500 people each year discover their HIV status at too advanced a stage,” regrets the Director General of Public Health France

“You need to get tested as soon as possible. You can get tested without a prescription,” recalls Caroline Semaille, director general of Public Health France.

“2,500 people each year who discover their HIV status at too advanced a stage“, regretted Friday December 1 on Franceinfo Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France, on this World AIDS Day.

franceinfo: What is the situation today?

Caroline Semaille: 40 years after the discovery of the virus, we still have people who discover their HIV status and we still have too many people who discover their HIV status at too advanced a stage of the disease.

What does too advanced mean?

Today, we have 2,500 people each year who discover their HIV status too late. Fortunately, we have extremely effective treatments, so they will have a completely normal life. But it’s still a waste of luck. You need to be screened and diagnosed as early as possible.

Is screening the only solution to reduce contamination?

We have several levers to fight against HIV infection. There is screening. We have more than 6.5 million screenings. You need to get tested as early as possible, especially as soon as you have signs like chronic fatigue or angina that doesn’t go away. You should talk to your doctor who can offer this screening and you should not refuse it. There are brakes and it’s a shame because it’s completely free. You can get tested without a prescription or prescription.

Are there societal reasons that hinder screening?

We still need to fight against discrimination and that is why we have carried out campaigns to fight against discrimination for several years. We will not dare to go for screening if we feel singled out. We also see that there is a decline (among young people) in knowledge regarding transmission and HIV infection. Sometimes I feel like I’m going back 30 years.

Has the health crisis had any effects on screening?

We know that in 2020 and 2021, we saw a decline in screening for many things, such as diabetes, colorectal cancer and obviously HIV.