In 1983, the AIDS virus, HIV, was isolated by virologists at the Institut Pasteur. This new virus, which was completely unknown at the time, was a source of fear and rejection for infected people. And while there have been advances in scientific knowledge over the decades – for example, we now know that if a virus cannot be detected in the blood, it cannot be transmitted –, there are still many misconceptions about HIV, especially among young people, as Jennifer Pasquier, Scientific Director at French HIV/AIDS charity Sidaction explains.
This interview is the third in a series of testimonies from representatives of patient organizations to mark the 40th anniversary of the discovery of HIV.
12 to 17% of 15 to 24-year-olds still think that you can contract the virus by kissing, drinking from the same water glass as someone living with HIV, or even coming into contact with their sweat.
Jennifer PasquierScientific Director at Sidaction
What has changed over the past 40 years in the fight against HIV?
Jennifer Pasquier: There have been many changes in the past 40 years. We have learned a lot, largely as a result of science and research. But unfortunately, especially among young people, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the virus.
An IFOP survey conducted in March 2023 for Sidaction1 revealed, for example, that 12 to 17% of 15 to 24-year-olds still think that you can contract the virus by kissing, drinking from the same water glass as someone living with HIV, or even coming into contact with their sweat. Those are worrying percentages, especially as these misconceptions also still prevail among older people. Another alarming figure is that half of all young people don't know where to go to get tested.
So it's clear that we need to inform people, and that there is a real gap between progress in science, what we know about the virus, and what people know.
What has changed as a result of research? What discoveries have made a real difference?
J. P.: Research, which is central to the fight against HIV, has changed a huge number of things. It has saved many lives, and it has enabled many people living with HIV today to lead a "normal" life because of the treatments available.
In my view the key milestone was the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the famous ART, in the 1990s. For people receiving effective treatment, this means that the virus no longer replicates, it is undetectable in the blood and can no longer be transmitted.
You have brought along a video cassette. Can you tell us about it?
J. P.: It's a video of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, which took place on April 20, 1992, after the death of Freddie Mercury. My dad was a great Queen fan and I grew up to the sound of Freddie Mercury songs. When the concert was held, to raise money for research, I was around 10 years old. It was the first time I had heard of AIDS and AIDS research.
It had a decisive impact on my future, as 30 years after the concert I am now the Scientific Director at Sidaction. It made me want to find out more about the virus and to pursue a career in research.
What message would you like to share with scientists and society at large?
J. P.: The message that I would like to pass on to scientists is "thank you!" I would like to thank them for all their work over the past 40 years, and for their continued work, because the fight is not over, we still need new treatments and above all we need preventive and therapeutic vaccines to rid ourselves of the virus.
And with society more widely, I would like to share a message of empathy, action and education. Education, because people need to learn about HIV and AIDS. And action, because we need to stop the stigma, to stop discriminating against people living with HIV. Lastly, I would like to pass on a message of hope, that we would move towards a world where people no longer have to suffer from this virus.
Vipindi vya kwanza vya kuambukizwa virusi vya ukimwi vilipatikana mwaka 1983 na wataalamu wa virusi wa Taasisi ya Pasteur. Virusi hivyo vilikuwa vimepatikana kwa mara ya kwanza na vilikuwa chanzo cha hofu na kukataliwa kwa watu walioambukizwa. "Hata hivyo, licha ya maendeleo ya kisayansi katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, ""bado kuna maoni mengi yasiyo sahihi kuhusu virusi vya Ukimwi, hasa miongoni mwa vijana,"" anaeleza Jennifer Pasquier, mkurugenzi wa kisayansi wa shirika la misaada la Kifaransa la kupambana na Ukimwi." Hii ni mara ya tatu katika mfululizo wa taarifa kutoka kwa wawakilishi wa mashirika ya wagonjwa kuadhimisha maadhimisho ya miaka 40 ya ugunduzi wa virusi vya Ukimwi. "Wanaume 12 hadi 17 kati ya vijana wa miaka 15 hadi 24 bado wanafikiri kwamba unaweza kuambukizwa virusi kwa kubusiana, kunywa maji kutoka glasi moja na mtu aliye na virusi vya Ukimwi, au hata kuwasiliana na jasho lake. """ Jennifer Pasquier, Mkurugenzi wa Sayansi katika SidAction, anasema kuwa hatua za kupambana na virusi vya Ukimwi zimebadilika sana katika miaka 40 iliyopita. Jennifer Pasquier: Kuna mabadiliko mengi katika miaka 40 iliyopita. Tumejifunza mengi, hasa kwa sababu ya sayansi na utafiti. Lakini kwa bahati mbaya, hasa miongoni mwa vijana, bado kuna maoni mengi yasiyo sahihi kuhusu virusi. Uchunguzi wa IFOP uliofanywa mnamo Machi 2023 kwa Sidecon ulifunua, kwa mfano, kwamba 12-17% ya vijana wa miaka 15-24 bado wanafikiri kwamba unaweza kuambukizwa virusi kwa kubusiana, kunywa kutoka glasi moja ya maji na mtu anayeishi na VVU, au hata kuwasiliana na jasho lao. Idadi hiyo ya watu ni ya kusikitisha, hasa kwa kuwa watu wazee wana maoni hayo yasiyofaa. Takwimu nyingine ya kutisha ni kwamba nusu ya vijana hawajui wapi waende kupimwa. """Ni wazi kwamba tunahitaji kuwajulisha watu, na kwamba kuna pengo la kweli kati ya maendeleo ya kisayansi, kile tunachojua kuhusu virusi, na kile watu wanajua." Ni nini kimebadilika kutokana na utafiti? Ni uvumbuzi gani ambao umefanya tofauti kubwa? """Utafiti wa kihistoria, ambao ni muhimu katika kupambana na virusi vya Ukimwi, umebadilisha mambo mengi." Ugonjwa huo umeokoa maisha ya watu wengi na umewawezesha watu wengi wanaoishi na virusi vya Ukimwi kuishi maisha ya kawaida kwa sababu ya matibabu yanayopatikana. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, hatua ya kwanza ya ""kuanzisha"" matibabu ya antiretroviral ilikuwa katika miaka ya 1990." Kwa watu wanaopokea matibabu bora, hii inamaanisha kwamba virusi havitazaliwi tena, havitagunduliwa katika damu na haviwezi kupitishwa tena. Umeleta kaseti ya video. Je, unaweza kutuambia kuhusu hilo? "Mchezo huo unaitwa ""Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert"" na ulifanyika Aprili 20, 1992 baada ya kifo cha Freddie Mercury." Baba yangu alikuwa shabiki mkubwa wa Queen na nililelewa nikisikiliza nyimbo za Freddie Mercury. Wakati wa maonyesho hayo, ili kukusanya fedha kwa ajili ya utafiti, nilikuwa na umri wa miaka kumi hivi. Ni mara ya kwanza kusikia kuhusu UKIMWI na utafiti wake. "Hiyo ilikuwa na athari kubwa kwa siku zangu za baadaye, kwani miaka 30 baada ya tamasha hilo mimi sasa ni Mkurugenzi wa Sayansi katika Sidecon.""" Jambo hilo lilinifanya nitake kujua mengi zaidi kuhusu virusi hivyo na kuanza kufanya kazi ya utafiti. Ni ujumbe gani ungependa kugawana na wanasayansi na jamii kwa ujumla? "Mfano: ""Nataka kuwaambia wanasayansi, 'Nashukuru!" """Ningependa kuwashukuru kwa kazi yao yote katika miaka 40 iliyopita na kwa kazi yao ya kuendelea, kwa sababu mapambano hayajaisha, bado tunahitaji matibabu mapya na juu ya yote tunahitaji chanjo za kuzuia na matibabu ili kujiondoa kwenye virusi." Na kwa jamii kwa ujumla, ningependa kushiriki ujumbe wa hisia-mwenzi, hatua na elimu. """Kutokana na elimu, watu wanajifunza kuhusu virusi vya Ukimwi." Na kwa sababu tunahitaji kukomesha unyanyasaji, kukomesha ubaguzi dhidi ya watu wanaoishi na HIV. "Mwishowe, ningependa kupitisha ujumbe wa matumaini kwamba tutaelekea ulimwengu ambapo watu hawatakuwa na mateso ya virusi hivi."""