HIV prevention: I 'PrEP' my dates

Every year on 1 December people around the globe commemorate World AIDS day.

The Ministry of Health and Social Security, in collaboration with the Supervisory Committee for AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and the HIV Berodung (counselling) service of the Red Cross, will once again be running their HIV prevention campaign, focusing on PrEP treatment.

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is preventive treatment in the form of oral tablets that reduce the risk of contracting HIV. This treatment can be taken every day or for protection as and when required. In Luxembourg, PrEP is available on prescription from a specialist infectious disease doctor at the National Service for Infectious Diseases (Service national des maladies infectieuses) and is funded by the National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé - CNS).

A website on this treatment was set up in 2022, where you will find everything you need to know: www.prep.lu.

Events taking place on 1 December as part of the 2023 campaign

The following events will take place on 1 December:

• From 7.30 to 9.30:
  the HIV-Berodung of the Luxembourg Red Cross is organising the distribution of condoms at two different locations in Luxembourg City: in the square in front of Luxembourg station and next to the funicular railway linking Pfaffenthal and Kirchberg.
  
  
• From 11.30 to 14.30:
  distribution of condoms at the Cloche d’Or Shopping Center, while the DIMPS-Mobile HIV Testing service will be at the Hamilius Centre, offering free, anonymous, rapid HIV screening tests and the distribution of condoms.
  
  
• 1 December is the last day to purchase the 'love baguette' in Namur shops in Luxembourg. The 'love baguette' is shaped like the red ribbon that is the symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV.
  For every love baguette purchased, EUR 1 will go to support the prevention activities of the HIV-Berodung service of the Red Cross.
  
  
• At 18.00:
  the HIV-Berodung service of the Luxembourg Red Cross is organising an evening of solidarity with a prize-giving for the 'Art On T-Shirt' competition, alongside an exhibition of the projects organised this year on the theme 'My Party, My Safety' aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of protecting yourself when partying. The evening will be held at the headquarters of the Cap4Group in Bertrange.