A Berlin testing campaign has recently been launched, offering rapid tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C. It is a collaboration between the local organisations Berliner Aids-Hilfe, Fixpunkt, Mann-O-Meter and Pluspunkt. The aim of the campaign is to better coordinate the city's rapid testing services. This means that they can now be offered continuously from Monday to Thursday.
"By expanding the existing offer, we also want to reach more people and thus increase the motivation to test," explains Heike Drews from the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband. She is the specialist responsible for drugs and addiction, HIV, AIDS, STI and health promotion. The Paritätische organises the cooperation between the various campaign providers.
In addition to the existing locations, another one was created in the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg. It has already been well received. "We had only expected it to be open for six months, when there wouldn't be much going on here..." says team leader Kai Schwabe from Pluspunkt, the operator of the new drop-in centre. "We are already at the limit of our capacity."
This is proof of how necessary these programmes are and how well they are received. Heike Drews agrees and hopes "that we can persuade the state of Berlin to contribute to the funding. " So far, the campaign has been funded by the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin. However, Drews believes that longer-term funding is absolutely essential: "Our goal is clearly to establish the rapid tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis as standard services."
I KNOW WHAT I DO recommends annual checks for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Studies showthat gonorrhoea and other infections in gay men are too often not recognised.
You can find the exact test dates and locations on the campaign page www.hiv-schnell-test.de find.
(Tim Schomann)
