People and their health are the focus of our work. We promote structural prevention and health in the area of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) for groups particularly at risk for and affected by these infections. These groups are always included in our efforts.
Our goals:
- We want to empower people to protect themselves and create a socio-political framework where infections can be prevented. Since we know that every HIV infection damages health, we conduct “primary prevention” (prevent new infections).
- We want people to be able to live free from serious diseases for as long as possible despite their HIV infection. That is why we conduct secondary prevention, so that people who are infected do not fall ill.
- We want to improve the lives of people who are sick to the greatest possible extent. That is why we conduct “tertiary prevention.”
Structural prevention concept
The work conducted by the German AIDS service organization is based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion from 1986 and the lifestyle or living environment of the WHO that it is based on.
Our concept of “structural prevention” takes into account the behavior of the individual as well as the circumstances (structures) they live in, because what can contribute to the lives of individuals, their health and reducing risks is largely dependent upon their social environment, society and politics.
We derive our maxims from this conviction. The German AIDS Service Organization (DAH):
- adjusts its offerings for healthy behavior to the world of the individual and the groups
- promotes self-help and self-organization
- urges change where politics and society hinder health promotion
- is committed to nursing and medical care that is based on the rights and needs of the people
