Ghana Union Stor-Stockholm: AFRIS organises seminar on Hiv/Aids

AFRIS organized a seminar on Saturday, 16th January, with Dr. Perh-Olof Persson at Kista Träff. Per-Olof is renowned for his long time work with HIV/AIDS patients, both in Sweden and abroad. Listening in on his talk were AFRIS members and other interested guests. During the first half of his two-part lecture, Per-Olof spoke about the stigma that often comes with getting diagnosed with HIV. Using one of his former patients as an example, he illustrated how HIV, apart from the purely medical issues, can also have deep socio-psychological effects on the patient as a result of the preconceptions and fears that both the patient and others around him/her might have. Although knowledge about the disease is probably better today among the general population, Per-Olof and the audience could conclude that it is still a disease that can be difficult to talk and be open about perhaps even more so among African groups within Sweden.

He said the world now has an estimated 33.4 million persons diagnosed with the virus. He revealed that between 400 and 450 new cases are diagnosed each year in Sweden. He compared the risk proportions in Sweden and Zambia and said the later country has a much higher risk than Swedes. He said in Sweden, the group of homosexuals were the best informed about the disease but deaths in that group are highest.

In the second part of his speech, Per-Olof talked more generally about the present day situation when it comes to treatment and prevention. He fielded many questions after his lecture and gave more information about the disease in his answers. Dr Persson said all attempts at producing a vaccine have so far failed and he was not sure that anything was in sight within the next 10 to 15 years. Vaginal micro-biotics have also not been effective. He didn’t place a high hope on condom usage to prevent the spread and said they have not been effective. He asserted that male circumcision was effective in reducing the risk of contracting the virus. He stressed the need for medication since this reduces the risk to pass on the virus to others.

After the speech food was served and finally a documentary movie was shown. It was a coverage from eastern Congo telling about victims of sexual assault as a result of the civil war there. Besides being traumatized, the victims also risk being repudiated by their families and being infected with HIV. The movie showed the work of some women’s organizations trying to help and support these women despite a hard financial situation.