“HIV in Turkey” Documentary Filmed

Turkchem 11 Nov 2019 87 4 dk okuma

TURKCHEM

Sabancı University and Gilead Sciences Turkey co-organized the IV National Awareness Conference themed "Together We Are Stronger Against HIV," where the documentary "HIV in Turkey" had its premiere.

The documentary was produced with the support of Gilead Sciences Turkey by 5N1K producer Cüneyt Özdemir and his team to increase public awareness in Turkey. Documentary producer Cüneyt Özdemir said in remarks before the film screening: "When we first undertook making such a documentary in Turkey, we realized how important it was. For generations growing up in the 1990s, HIV/AIDS was like a horror film. Because they were isolated from their society, they were left to face the disease alone. One of the most important reasons for this was lack of information. In this regard, knowing alone is not enough; spreading information and raising awareness are equally important. This documentary is an important step, but of course it is not enough. Civil society organizations, the private sector and the government need to act together on this issue." Sabancı University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman, who delivered the opening remarks of the conference, said: "One of the most important decisions Sabancı University made at its foundation was that beyond training academically successful and well-equipped individuals, it would also train good students and good citizens.

I'm glad we created the Mandatory Community Awareness course. Being aware of society and participating in solving social problems is very important. To date, nearly 15,000 of our students have worked in these areas. Eighty projects are carried out every year. About 1,200 students participate in projects.

Recalling that the university has organized community awareness conferences on women, then youth and parenting, he continued: "Today we will also discuss HIV. The slogan 'Together We Are Stronger Against HIV' is very apt. I thank Gilead Sciences Turkey for working with Sabancı University on this issue."

HIV Is No Longer a Death Sentence; Together We Will End It

Dr. Jose M. Zuniga, President of the International Association of Healthcare Providers for AIDS Care (IAPAC), who participated in the panel "Where Are We on HIV in Turkey?", said Turkey is very successful in diagnosis and treatment but fails to achieve this success at the detection stage. Recalling that IAPAC supported the Fast Track Cities initiative created in Paris in 2014 in 26 cities, Dr. Zuniga said: "We launched this initiative to reach the 90-90-90 targets (90% diagnosed, 90% treated, 90% virally suppressed) and zero stigma goals set for HIV. We hope Istanbul and other provinces will participate in this initiative."

Patient Numbers Rose 465% Over the Past 10 Years

Prof. Dr. Deniz Gökengin, who participated in the panel, noted that while the global fight against HIV saw a 23% decline, Turkey experienced a significant increase in patient numbers over the past 10 years. Stating that in some parts of the world rapid increases continue in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Central European countries, Prof. Dr. Gökengin said: "Turkey adds between 3,000 to 4,000 new cases every year. In fact, we can only diagnose half of the patients living with HIV; we estimate there are as many more people living with HIV. For years, patient numbers in Turkey were low. However, increases in regions neglected for years were inevitable, and it is spreading here too." Prof. Dr. Serhat Ünal from Hacettepe University said: "Expanding anonymous testing centers in Turkey is important. That is how you catch actual cases. Unfortunately, no progress has been made on awareness. Today 20,000 people are living with HIV, tomorrow it will be 40,000 before you know it. Yet we have all the treatments. This is not just a medical issue. It became this era's tuberculosis and has even surpassed it. But to prevent more lives from being lost in the future, we need to find a way to educate about this. We must overcome prejudices on this issue."