Emmanuel Macron called on Saturday not to let AIDS "
regain ground
" by inviting mobilization for Sidaction, at a time when the Covid-19 epidemic "
relegates other pathologies to the shadows and silence
".
“
For a year now, the Covid has constrained our lives, limited our movements, restricted our human relations.
As if that weren't enough, it overshadows other health emergencies.
By crushing the news, it relegates other pathologies to the shadows and silence,
"writes the Head of State in a message on social networks, deploring"
an alarming drop in HIV testing
".
To read also: Sidaction: Muriel Robin pays tribute to the 35 years of commitment of Line Renaud
Emmanuel Macron thus joins the concerns of those responsible for Sidaction, a charitable event supported by televisions and radios, which takes place until Sunday to highlight the scourge of HIV, which has been in the background for a year and the eruption of the Covid-19 epidemic.
“
The main impact is on the delay in accessing screening.
In France, in October, we had 650,000 fewer tests than what was planned at this stage, and some countries had up to 50% fewer screenings
”, deplored the general manager of Sidaction, Florence Thune to AFP.
Emmanuel Macron underlines that “
against AIDS, there are also barrier gestures.
One above all: the condom
”, recalling that, faced with this“
invisible enemy
”,“
we still do not have a vaccine and the therapies remain heavy
”.
"
We need your momentum, your help to finance research, prevention programs and support for patients,
" insists the Head of State, adding that France is "
the second largest contributor to the Global Fund against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
”.
Last year, the collection weekend scheduled for April was canceled due to confinement.
This year, the launch of Sidaction took place Thursday evening with the broadcast of a clip on the 31 partner media, which relay calls for donations all weekend.
They can be done by phone (110, free call) or internet at www.sidaction.org.
An evening entitled "
Merci Line
" will be broadcast on Saturday on France 2 in tribute to Line Renaud, who remains at 92 the irremovable vice-president of Sidaction, an association created in 1994.
According to the latest UNAIDS report, 38 million people around the world are living with HIV and more than 12 million people are waiting for treatment, which is now life-saving.
In 2019, 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV and 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.