COUNSELLING - TESTING - TREATMENT
The MOIN Checkpoint is a joint project between the Aidshilfe Lübeck für sexuelle Gesundheit e.V. and the Clinic for Infectiology at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Lübeck
What makes the MOIN Checkpoint so special?
The establishment of a "Checkpoint PLUS", like our MOIN Checkpoint, fills a medical service gap and provides an easily accessible point of contact for counselling, diagnostics and therapy services. This reduces the number of counselling and treatment interfaces, creates an integrated care structure, and optimally utilises the synergies of the involved institutions - Aidshilfe Lübeck and UKSH.
So far, there has been no central point of contact in Lübeck for testing, counselling and the treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Instead, people had to visit different locations and interact with various contacts to access testing and treatment services.
In the case of positive results, neither the Aidshilfe nor the Department of Health could offer treatment. Those affected were referred to specialised facilities such as the HIV outpatient clinic at UKSH or specialised doctors. If patients felt uncertain or experienced discrimination, they often discontinued treatment. As a result, infections were either not treated at all or treated too late, continuing the cycle of transmittion to their sexual partners.
Empirical knowledge suggests that high attrition rates must be expected in cases when diagnoses are made in low-threshold prevention facilities, such as Aidshilfen, but the diagnosed individuals "get lost" on their way to the various treatment facilities.
The UKSH also represents a major barrier for many people to get tested and treated. This often leads to late diagnoses, particularly in the case of HIV. The same applies to other sexually transmitted infections. If they are detected and treated too late, complications such as infertility across all genders can arise."