EU-Project | |
Frankfurt Seminar May 25th - 27th 2001 |
Psychological Support for people with HIV/AIDS
Dear Mr. Herkommer, dear participants of this seminar “Specific
cultural aspects of each country a HIV-infection“.
In the name of the community administration of Frankfurt welcome you in our city. I am glad that so many cities and countries have come together for this project of the European Union, whose representatives will definitely contribute to the success of this crucial task of health service the psychotherapeutic support of people infected with HIV and AIDS. My name is Sonja Stark. I am the substitute head of the public health department in Frankfurt. Over many year I have been able to join ihe work and development of the AIDS-care-programmes in our city. In Germany there have comparatively more people been infected with HIV for the last five years. According to the Robert-Koch-Institute 750 new infections have been recorded in the year 2000 compared to 1999 this is an increase ot 33 %. In Germany live about 37000 people who are infected with the HIV. Since the outbreak of fhe epidemic in the 1980‘s there hove been 22000 cases of AIDS; 18000 people have olready died of the infection. About half of all HIV-infected people live in big cities such as
Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich or Cologne, only 4 % live in the new federal
states of Germany.
Studies have shown that at least half of all patients are suffering trom high psychological and social pressure. Psychological support of people with HIV and AIDS is thus the fundamental work ot the AIDS-counseiling services, also for us in Frankfurt. From the beginning on we have attached great importance to interdisciplinary
and a network like system of care. To this concept belong medical and psycho-social
counselling and the care of different expert systems (public and private)
as weil as voluntary care.
The university hospital and especially the ambulance of infectious
diseases plays an important role as to treatment and care of patients suffering
from AIDS.
Other scientists, such as Dr. S. Staszewski and Dr. V. Miller have
received the national AIDS-reward in 1996 for their excellent work. At
the moment 2500 patients are being treated all in all. Across the country
this ambulance is one of the biggest specialized ambulances tor the treatment
of people infected with HIV.
I would also like to present to you the anonymous AIDS-counselling
centre of the public health department of Frankfurt, which was estblished
in 1985.
In the 90 s we have attached more importance to our preventive work.
We offer lectures and projects of preventive work for disseminators. And
until now the main focus has been centering on preventive work for children
and youths in schools. You will get closer information on this programme
from Mrs. Münch afterwards.
Moreover there is a department for domestic care. And the AIDS-Hilfe gives help for male-prostitutes and for drug addicts as well. The AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt has become quite a big organization with different services. Until today other organizations such as “AIDS-Aufklärung” have
joined our network so that people in Frankfurt can find suitable answers.
Especially migrants are taken Info account no matter with or without residence permit. Sex workers and their customers belong to our target group as weil as migrants without access to linguistic or cultural suitable information. Our employees of this counselling centre speak English, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. If the need arises a Thai interpreter holds herself ready. In the study group “AIDS“ the members of the counselling organizations meet regularly in order to exchange information and experience and for reasons of cooperation in special projects. Other study groups for example “physicians and AIDS“ or “primary prevention“ complete our AIDS-services-network in Frankfurt. Beyand the specialist cooperation, the city Frankfurt has regularly financially supported AIDS-services. Right now I would like to finish my speech; Mr. Herkommer will inform
you about the AIDS-services in Hessen.
I am very glad about the existence of this project and want to request you to inform us about the development and the results of your work. Dr. Sonja Stark
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Praxis Psychosoziale Beratung |