The fight against HIV / Aids in Austria


More than 20 years ago the first case of AIDS occurred in Austria. Today, there are an estimated 6,000 people in Austria living with HIV and more than 1,300 have died from an AIDS related death since the beginning of the epidemic. There is still no cure for AIDS. On average, one to two people contract the virus in Austria every day.

For many of those affected, the infection or outbreak of AIDS still goes hand in hand with social isolation and loneliness. For many, a diagnosis of HIV still means getting socially marginalized.  Thanks to the emergence of the anti-retroviral combination therapy (HAART), AIDS can now be treated. The therapy improves the quality of life of those affected and increases their life expectancy. The Austrian health system is well developed and covers the therapy for most patients.

Fighting "social AIDS"
In addition to struggling with the disease, those affected still face "social AIDS." Since the taboo about HIV and AIDS has been broken, many demonstrate their solidarity in the fight against stigmatisation and social marginalization. Well-known personalities speak up and commit themselves for the good cause in public, such as on the occasion of Life Ball. Nevertheless, AIDS has lost its initial threat since antiretroviral therapy has emerged and the awareness about the dangers of an infection has been declining. This also shows in the latest statistics with infection rates going up again in Austria. Although young people are educated about how to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS, growing ignorance toward the topic can be observed. This is why Aids Life feels responsible to continue promoting awareness for HIV and AIDS in public and to raise as much funds as possible to help fight the disease. AIDS is still fatal.

Distribution of Funds/Supported projects
Thank you very much for your interest in getting to know which projects could be supported with the funds raised through Life Ball. Aids Life attaches great importance to transparency. More...

Criteria for financial support in Austria

Direct help for the social dependant Financial support focuses on organizations and initiatives whose activities directly benefit people with HIV and AIDS, such as providing monetary assistance and required goods for those who need it most. An infection with the HI-virus or sickness due to AIDS can often and easily cause an existential breakdown. Although stigmatization of HIV/AIDS has been decreasing, and living conditions in Austria are better than in many non-European countries, living with HIV/AIDS significantly affects one's finances. Even if basic living needs and medical care are covered, unexpected expenses, such as heating repairs in winter, can be an insurmountable financial problem for an HIV-positive unemployed person of minimal income. For these emergency situations, direct financial aid is provided by non-profit organizations after a profound examination of its objective justification. In part, these organizations acquire their funding from the proceeds of the Life Ball. A central criterion for the allocation of funds to these organizations by Aids Life is the social and economic need of the affected beneficiaries.

Social Contact and Counselling
Another priority are initiatives to fight the social consequences of HIV/AIDS. AIDS Life supports organizations and projects which provide
counseling services, help people with HIV and AIDS to get or keep up social contacts and enable them to deal better with crisis situations.

No Support for Infrastructure
Despite the success of Life Ball, as the primary source of funds for Aids Life, the amount of money which is raised by the event can never be predicted. This is why running costs for infrastructure of organizations such as lease and maintenance costs, personnel costs of regular staff, etc, are not financed by Aids Life. Before funds are allocated by Aids Life, it needs to be assured that an organization is self-sufficient in its
existential needs and that the absence of the donations by Aids Life would not cause the breakdown of the project or the loss of jobs.

No Substitution of Public Funding
The Austrian public health care system does in part attend to its responsibility toward people affected by HIV/AIDS and in the field of
HIV/AIDS prevention. Therefore Aids Life makes sure that funds which are allocated do not substitute any existing public funding.


Information about supported projects
Aids Hilfe Wien www.aids.at
Steirische Aids Hilfe www.aids-hilfe.at
Aids Hilfe Salzburg www.virushotline.at
Oberoesterreichische Aids Hilfe www.aidshilfe-ooe.at
Aids Hilfe Tirol www.aidshilfe-tirol.at
Aidshilfe Vorarlberg www.aidshilfe-vorarlberg.at
Positiver Dialog www.positiverdialog.at
Positiv Leben, Guenther Tolar www.tolar.at
HIV mobil www.hivmobil.org
Buddy Verein www.buddy-verein.org