HIV cannot be transmitted in everyday interactions, in leisure time, at work or during sport anyway. However, according to a survey by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), only around 10 percent of the population in Germany know that HIV infection is not transmissible under effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), even during sex without a condom.

Nevertheless, no one should do without self-protection during a sexual encounter. If they rely on the other person's statement "I am HIV-negative" or "I am on effective ART", they are taking a risk of HIV infection as they cannot check the reliability of the statements. It is up to each individual to decide whether to forego protective measures.

In principle, HIV is no longer a death sentence. If the infection is detected early through regular testing, people have a normal life expectancy. This requires a good local testing service.

The health department of the city of Salzgitter therefore offers the opportunity to be tested for HIV free of charge and anonymously during opening hours. The HIV self-test, which is carried out independently on site under supervision, provides a reliable test result after ten minutes. It only requires a small amount of blood from the fingertip. A trained counselor, who answers questions about the test, possible HIV transmission routes and how to interpret the result, eliminates application problems. The place of consultation and possible testing as part of the HIV self-test is the branch office of the public health department in the Facharztzentrum, in Kattowitzer Straße, in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt.

In addition, on February 28 and March 14, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be an opportunity to be tested for hepatitis C, syphilis, gonococci and chlamydia free of charge at the main office of the health department (former Klinikum am Berg in Salzgitter-Bad). The test offer is being organized in cooperation with the Lower Saxony AIDS-Hilfe Landesverband (NAH) and the Lower Saxony State Health Office (NLGA). The campaign "SVeN testet" ("Schwule Vielfalt erregt Niedersachsen " - see website: www.svenkommt.de) aims to improve the availability of testing for sexually transmitted diseases and thus contribute to prevention.

The contact person for the tests offered by the public health department is the Social Health Service (see below for contact details). To avoid waiting times and ensure the greatest possible anonymity, it is necessary to make an appointment.