AIDS Bergamo: Late Diagnosis & Prevention

If the trend is overall constant, when it comes to HIV and AIDS there is one figure that instead presents a growth trend: that of late diagnoses. The challenge of prevention is played out above all on this side, particularly among those who are less aware of it. Since the beginning of the year, 53 new infections have been identified in the province of Bergamo, substantially in line with the 62 in 2024 and the 60 in 2023, but in 15 cases positivity was detected only in cases of full-blown AIDS. «Even in the Bergamo area, the issue of late diagnoses and the problem of people unaware of the infection emerges», summarizes Paolo Meli, coordinator of the Bergamo Fast-Track City network, the project that since 2019 has brought together the third sector, institutions and the healthcare system to consolidate the culture of health on sexually transmitted diseases. There are around three thousand people with HIV/AIDS followed by the infectious diseases of the “Papa Giovanni”, the reference center for the Orobic territory.

It’s a daily job, but one that sees in December 1st – World AIDS Day – a symbolic and concrete date at the same time to strengthen the commitment. For the occasion, the Bergamo network is organizing two events: from 9 to 9.40 the Bergamo high schools will follow in streaming the event “#cHIVuleconsexire – Next Generation,” dedicated to prevention, while at 8.30 pm the auditorium of the Mascheroni high school will host the theater show «ProPositive 2.0» by and with Elena Di Cioccio.

screening programs promoted by the public health service have been active for some time for hepatitis C, while this is not the case for HIV. Yet, hepatitis C and HIV have very similar modes of transmission

But why do we discover the problem late? “Happens especially in two targets – explains Meli –: heterosexual men around 50-55 years old, who believe they are not affected by the “problem”, but it must be remembered that the issue can also concern those who have run the risk only once in their life, and then the most vulnerable groups, such as migrants or homeless people with other frailties, who already struggle to access health services. Addressing these issues is still a taboo, also in the medical field, and this is explained in one detail: screening programs promoted by the public health service have been active for hepatitis C for some time, while this is not the case for HIV. Yet, hepatitis C and HIV have very similar modes of transmission, can remain latent for a long time and require early diagnosis. In adults, precisely in that generation which between the 1980s and 1990s experienced the period of maximum media exposure of the phenomenon, sensitivity is now lower: in young people, on the other hand, we perceive great reactivity, precious attention”.

Among the objectives is the connection to treatment and maintenance in treatment, offering support to people with HIV and their family members to improve the quality of life from a social and health point of view

Since 2019, Bergamo Fast-Track City has involved over 20 schools, with 600 classes and more than 12 thousand students met, then supporting the screening activity in the area: 13 thousand people were reached, with a total of 37 thousand tests including HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis and, from this year, also hepatitis B; over the years it has thus been possible to reveal 31 cases of HIV, 51 of syphilis, 47 of hepatitis C, 36 of hepatitis B, and in addition around 40 people with previous diagnoses but not being treated have been brought back to the health services. Other innovations are on the horizon: «Together with the pharmacy system – announces Meli –, in 2026 we aim to make 1,500 rapid tests available in Bergamo pharmacies, to make this possibility even more widespread. Among the objectives is connection to treatment and maintenance in treatment, offering support to people with HIV and their family members to improve the quality of life from a social and health point of view. We must fight stigma and prejudice with determination by promoting an inclusive and welcoming culture.”