German AIDS Foundation

The Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung is a foundation founded in 1987 in Cologne by Pastor Rainer Ehlers (born Jarchow) under the name Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung Positiv leben. In the same year, then Federal Health Minister Rita Süssmuth initiated the founding of the Nationale AIDS-Stiftung; both organizations aimed to provide rapid financial help to people with HIV and AIDS in acute emergencies and to take a clear stance against discrimination and exclusion. In 1996 the two organizations merged into the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung, with the Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherung (PKV) and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) involved in the founding. From 1996/2000 the foundation also supported international HIV projects, particularly in countries of southern Africa. From 2020 it shifted its focus to funding and programmes aimed at structural improvements in healthcare and for people with HIV and AIDS. Today it is active nationally and internationally and in research, raises awareness, works against discrimination, and addresses policymakers.

In the 1980s a fatal disease, AIDS, emerged and the HI virus spread rapidly in Germany as well; there was no definitive protection and no medication, people died in Germany and worldwide, and fear spread while whole population groups, especially gay men, had to endure social ostracism alongside their illness. In 1987 Pastor Rainer Ehlers (born Jarchow) founded the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung Positiv leben in Cologne. In the same year Rita Süssmuth, then Federal Health Minister, initiated the founding of the Nationale AIDS-Stiftung. The goal of both organizations was rapid financial help for people with HIV and AIDS in acute emergencies, and to act with a clear stance against discrimination and exclusion. In 1996 both organizations merged into the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung; the Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherung (PKV) and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) were involved in the founding, and the foundation remains closely connected with both today. From 1996/2000 the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung also supported international HIV projects, particularly in countries of southern Africa, where HIV infection figures are especially dramatic. From 2020 the foundation shifted its focus to funding and programmes intended to achieve structural improvements in healthcare and for people with HIV and AIDS. Today the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung is active nationally and internationally and in research; it raises awareness, works against discrimination, and addresses policymakers.

Foundation providing rapid financial help to people with HIV and AIDS in acute emergencies and taking a clear stance against discrimination and exclusion.

1. 1Gemeinsam gegen HIV und Aids - Deutsche AIDS-Stiftungaids-stiftung.de
2. 2Geschichte – aids-stiftung.deaids-stiftung.de
3. 3Deutsche AIDS-Stiftungwikidata.org