Amsterdam has almost eradicated HIV transmission

Only 9 new cases of HIV were reported in the city last year.

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands seems well on its way to accomplishing its goal of zero HIV transmissions by 2026. Only nine cases of HIV were reported in Amsterdam last year, thanks to heavy investment in pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP), a drug protocol that prevents HIV transmission, and other HIV-prevention efforts.

While scientists have announced that a half dozen people may have been cured of HIV worldwide, the process is painful and expensive. It generally requires a bone marrow transplant after a cancer diagnosis.

Dutch health authorities have found a way to circumvent the curing process that prioritises prevention rather than treatment.

The Dutch AIDS Fund’s report of only nine new cases proves that the city’s investment in PrEP and other prevention strategies, which started in 2019, has had an impact. 128 people in Amsterdam were infected in 2019. PrEP can be used by people who don’t have HIV to prevent the virus from gaining hold of their immune system. When taken by people with the virus, it lowers the viral load to undetectable levels and makes it untransmissible.

Health authorities worldwide have particularly recommended the drug for gay men, sex workers and other people who are at risk for transmission.

In addition to PrEP, health officials have collaborated with politicians and HIV-care workers to create and promote easily accessible services and programmes for key at-risk populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), people with a migration background and people who inject drugs. Many clinics and hospitals in the city offer HIV testing and immediately provide anyone who tests positive with medication to lower viral loads to undetectable (and thus, untransmittable) levels.

According to Aidsfonds-Soa Aids Nederland, the number of new HIV infections in the city had decreased by 95% since 2010.

Approximately 98% of city residents living with HIV have been diagnosed, 95% of those have received medication treatment and 96% of those on treatment have suppressed the virus to untransmittable levels.

“After more than 40 years of working together to stop the spread of HIV, this is great news,” said Mark Vermeulen, the executive director of Aidsfonds-Soa Aids Nederland. “It really is possible to end HIV and AIDS. Amsterdam is proving to everyone that it can be done.”

So far, only three people worldwide have been cured of HIV. Three others have been in remission and potentially cured.

Sunday, 1 October was International Day of Older Persons. Tony loves being part of the Out In The City group for older LGBT+ people.

Bridgewater Hall

We’re delighted to advise that The Bridgewater Hall has offered us 12 FREE tickets to various performances from the International Concert Series, BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society at The Bridgewater Hall.

Monday, 6 November – 7.30pm – International Concert Series – Bridgewater Hall (12 FREE tickets)

Tenebrae – A Prayer for Deliverance

One of the world’s finest choirs returns to Manchester with a beautifully crafted collection of musical farewells:

Holst The Evening Watch
Cecilia McDowall Standing as I do before God
Francis Pott The Souls of the Righteous
Caroline Shaw And the Swallow
Bennett A Good-Night
Vaughan Williams Rest; Valiant-for-Truth
Joel Thompson A Prayer for Deliverance
Tavener Song for Athene
Pearsall Lay a Garland
Arthur Sullivan The Long Day Closes
Howells Requiem
Harris Bring us, O Lord

Monday, 13 November – 1.10pm – Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society – Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

Scott Brothers Duo

Tchaikovsky arr. Scott Sleeping Beauty Waltz
Richard Addinsell Warsaw Concerto
Saint-Saëns arr. Scott Danse Macabre
Mozart arr. Scott Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 K.467 ‘Elvira Madigan’
Liszt arr. Scott Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

Saturday, 25 November – 7.30pm – BBC Philharmonic – Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

The Spirit of Life

John Storgårds conductor/violin
Alexandra Dariescu piano

Copland Fanfare for the Common Man
James Lee III ‘Shades of Unbroken Dreams’ (BBC commission: UK Premiere)
Sebastian Fagerlund Helena’s Song (BBC commission: UK Premiere)
Nielsen Symphony No. 4, ‘The Inextinguishable’

Saturday, 2 December – 7.30pm – BBC Philharmonic – Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

Beethoven

Sir Andrew Davis conductor

Tippett The Rose Lake
Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel – selection
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F major

Tuesday, 5 December – 1.10pm – Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society – Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

Manchester Chamber Choir

Manchester Chamber Choir return to the Middays with a programme to celebrate the arrival of Advent, featuring music by William Byrd, Peter Philips, James MacMillan, Gabriel Jackson and Jan Sandström, amongst others. 

Friday, 12 January – 1.10pm – Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society – Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

Elisabet Franch Flute
Jonathan Fisher Piano

Manuel Infante Chanson Gitane
Jules Mouquet La flûte de Pan
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov Chanson Arabe from Scheherazade
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Lensky’s Aria from Eugene Onegin
Pablo de Sarasate Carmen Fantasy

Friday, 12 January 2024 – 7.30pm – International Concert Series Bridgewater Hall – 12 FREE tickets

Benjamin Grosvenor

Chopin Barcarolle
Schumann Fantasie
Liszt Berceuse; Sonata in B minor

If you are interested in attending any of the concerts, please contact us here.