Czech AIDS Help Society

The Czech AIDS Help Society (Czech: Česká společnost AIDS pomoc, z. s.; abbreviated ČSAP) is a Czech non-governmental, non-profit association dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, counselling and support for people living with HIV and their families. It was founded in 1989 as a self-help association by friends and relatives of affected people, and in its early years focused on prevention and public education about the disease. Its registered office is in Prague-Karlín. After personnel changes, a broad professionalisation and the inclusion of people living with HIV, the society moved on 11 August 1999 into the "House of Light" (Dům světla), which became its central base of operations. From there it runs a range of services: free and anonymous HIV antibody testing, HIV certificates for travel abroad, a supervised residential community for people with HIV, various therapy options, information workshops for school groups, and the distribution of information materials. On its official website the organisation presents itself under the name Česká společnost AIDS pomoc, z. s. and organises its activities around several pillars: testing (anonymous and free testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C), the KONTAKT+ community service offering free psychological support for people living with HIV and their loved ones, an asylum house (Azylový dům) providing individual and dignified help and support to people living with HIV who have lost their housing or face an unfavourable life or social situation, community activities and information resources for people living with HIV and their families, prevention and sexual-health information, and an online advice service (poradna) staffed by experts. The site states that the advice service has already answered 19,328 questions. The society is a civil-society organisation rather than a commercial company; it is funded through donations, grants and support from those who wish to help the organisation, the LGBT community and the community of people living with HIV. Its current president is Ivo Procházka. It publishes current articles on prevention and community topics and maintains a bilingual (Czech and English) web presence.

The Czech AIDS Help Society (Česká společnost AIDS pomoc) was founded in 1989 as a self-help association by friends and relatives of people affected by HIV/AIDS. In its first years the association concentrated on prevention and public education about the disease. Its registered seat is in Prague-Karlín. Over time the organisation underwent personnel changes and a broad professionalisation, and it increasingly involved people living with HIV in its work. A major turning point came on 11 August 1999, when the society moved into the "House of Light" (Dům světla), which became its new central place of activity. From this base it has offered services including free and anonymous HIV antibody testing, HIV certificates for travel abroad, a supervised residential community for people with HIV, various therapy options, information workshops for school groups, and the distribution of information materials. In the years since, the society has expanded its service portfolio and its public communication. Its official website presents activities grouped around testing, the KONTAKT+ community support service, an asylum house for people living with HIV who have lost their housing, community and information resources, prevention and sexual-health information, and an online expert advice service. The organisation also engages in fundraising and invites the public to support its work, the LGBT community and the community of people living with HIV. Its current president is Ivo Procházka.

• 1999

  On 11 August 1999 the society moved into the "House of Light" (Dům světla), its new central place of activity.

• 1989

  Founded as a self-help association by friends and relatives of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

A Czech non-profit self-help and service organisation for people affected by HIV/AIDS, offering free, anonymous and non-judgemental testing, counselling, housing and community support.

• Free and anonymous HIV antibody test

• HIV certificates for travel abroad

• Supervised residential community for people with HIV

• Information workshops for school groups

• KONTAKT+ psychological support

• Azylový dům (asylum house)

• Online expert advice service (poradna)

1. 1Česká společnost AIDS pomoc, z. s. – official websiteaids-pomoc.cz
2. 2Czech AIDS Help Society – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Tschechische AIDS-Hilfe-Gesellschaft – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org