Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH) is a German non-governmental organisation (NGO) which provides HIV and AIDS prevention services and represents the interests of people with HIV. It is also an umbrella association uniting about 120 regional member organisations.

Cooperation between NGOs and government

HIV and AIDS prevention in Germany has seen a successful division of labour since the 1980s: While the state-run Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) targets the general public, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe develops and provides services for populations most at risk of HIV, hepatitis and other STIs (e.g. gay and other men who have sex with men, drug users, prisoners, sex workers, migrants from high prevalence countries). Communication through several kinds of media as well as streetwork and on-site activities are integral parts of Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe’s work in this field.
Since 1986, this work has been funded by the state (Federal Ministry of Health, BZgA). Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe – as the organisation of those most affected by HIV – makes an ideal partner in prevention for the state.

The basis of our work: “Structural prevention”

The work of Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe is geared to the 1986 Ottawa Charta For Health Promotion and the underlying WHO lifestyle approach. Our concept of “structural prevention” takes into account both the behaviour of individuals and the circumstances (the structures) in which they live. An individual’s ability to protect their own health and reduce risk strongly depends on society. Providing information as well as creating a non-discriminatory environment and enabling people to take measures to protect themselves are all equally important. This is why Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe calls for changes where policy and society stand in the way of effective health promotion and prevention. We align our services with the living environments of individuals and populations, developing and promoting care in accordance with people’s rights and needs.

What We Do

Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe provides information through classic media, including brochures, posters, ads and reference books, as well as online media, such as several websites and social media activities. Our website www.aidshilfe.de provides information on HIV prevention, living with HIV/AIDS, self-help activities, as well as up-to-date news on HIV.

A special highlight is the national campaign ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU (I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING) targeted at gay men and other MSM.

Furthermore, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe engages in public relations and advocacy for the interests of people living with and most affected by HIV.

Self-help and capacity building are another important part of Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe’s remit. Since 1990 we have been organising regular national conferences for people with HIV and their families and friends. We also support networks such as the Network of Relatives and Friends of People With HIV and AIDS or the National Network of Junkies, Former Drug Users and People in Opiate Substitution Treatment (JES).

Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe also organises the dialogue between people living with HIV – as “experts on themselves” – and representatives of medical and sociological science and research, and promotes communication with and amongst politicians, public authorities and other associations.

Being the nationwide professional association, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe is to provides training and education for the employees and volunteers of the regional HIV/AIDS service organisations.

The regional HIV/AIDS service organisations provide information and counselling for all populations – in person, by telephone or online, and also on-site in the gay scene, the drug scene and in places of sex work. They also provide self-help and discussion groups for people with HIV and their friends and relatives, take care of people with HIV and AIDS in their homes, in hospitals and prisons, organise educational events and training, and perform press work and public relations on a regional level.

Our Partners

Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe is member of Action Against AIDS and of charities and associations of persons with disabilities. We co-operate with various non-governmental and governmental organisations, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF) and German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) being just two of them.

On an international level we belong to networks such as the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) and Harm Reduction International, and we co-operate with various organisations such as the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine and LaSky Russia.

Furthermore, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe collaborates with global institutions such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU).

Documents

Content

Drugs

Gay, MSM

Criminalisation

Women

Imprisonment

Medicine

Migration

Advice

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Link

Contact

Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH)
Wilhelmstraße 138
10963 Berlin
Germany

T +49 30 69 00 87-0
F +49 30 69 00 87-42
dah@aidshilfe.de

Additional Links

External Links