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Who we are?
The Social Education Foundation has been raising awareness about social problems and public health for 21 years. We conduct educational activities in the field of mental and psychosexual health, counteracting addictions to psychoactive substances and behavioral addictions.
We provide comprehensive prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, offering common, free and anonymous tests since 2004. We also offer broad psychological, legal and social support for people living with HIV.
Social Education
Foundation
Self-administered home HIV test
A home HIV test is a good option if you have difficult access to testing centers in Poland. It is a 3rd generation test i.e. a rapid screening test that detects anti-HIV antibodies. You can do it by pricking your fingertip according to the instructions, and you will get the result in 15 minutes or after 1 minute (depending on the manufacturer). HIV tests shipped by the Foundation for Community Education may have different manufacturers. Always read the test instructions. The Foundation guarantees that each has high efficacy (sensitivity and specificity) and has been approved for distribution in Poland.
NOTE! If you are living with HIV and have an undetectable viral load, please get tested for HIV by your attending physician. In such cases, a rapid HIV test will always react.
Worth knowing!
You can become infected with HIV when a potentially infectious fluid comes into contact with mucous membranes, damaged skin (a fresh, open wound), or is injected directly into our bloodstream (e.g. by sharing needles).
Infectious fluids:
- blood
- sperm
- vaginal and cervical secretions
- pre-ejaculate
- breast milk
You cannot get HIV by kissing, hugging, sharing the same towels, or biting a mosquito.
You will NOT get HIV from a person living with HIV who is undergoing treatment and has an undetectable viral load*.
*viremia – the level of viral copies in the blood.
Yes. Treatment of HIV infection involves taking antiretroviral medications every day, usually one tablet. These medicines are designed to inhibit the replication (multiplication) of the virus in the body, so that the virus does not damage the immune system of the infected person.
A person living with HIV who takes medication regularly has an undetectable viral load*.. This condition makes it impossible for an HIV+ person to infect another person.
UNDETECTABLE VIREMIA* = A PERSON WITH HIV IS NOT INFECTIOUS. (N=N)
*Undetectable viral load – in the blood of a person living with HIV, the genetic material of the HIV virus cannot be determined as a result of treatment.
An HIV+ person who is being treated may:
- Have satisfying sexual contacts.
- Give birth to HIV-negative children.
- Have a long and happy life.
Infectious fluids (see “How you can become infected with HIV”), HIV+ people with undetectable viral loadare no longer infectious and contact with them will not cause HIV infection.
The average life expectancy of a person who is quickly diagnosed with HIV infection and starts antiretroviral treatment is comparable to the life expectancy of an uninfected person.
Treatment of HIV infection in Poland is carried out by specialists in infectious diseases, takes place in Immunodeficiency Treatment Clinics and is reimbursed under the Health Policy Program of the Minister of Health entitled: “Antiretroviral treatment of people living with HIV in Poland”.
Have you taken an HIV test and your result is negative? Great. Take care of preventive measures, use condoms and/or get on PrEP!
Condom
Remember that when used correctly from start to finish during sexual contact, a condom provides 100% protection against HIV infection. A condom can also reduce the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections.
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – involves taking antiretroviral medications to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection. These medicines are used on a doctor’s order in HIV-uninfected people before exposure to infection (e.g. before sex or injection of a substance) and for some time after exposure.
Patients using PrEP correctly gain protection (86 – 99%) against HIV infection.
Keep in mind that PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.
Want to learn more? Visit the prep.edu.pl website.
Are you looking for a trusted place to get PrEP in Warsaw?
Make an appointment at the Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation Center at ul. Nougat 3 in Warsaw.
doctor Karolina Lisek – infectious disease specialist at the Provincial Infectious Diseases Hospital in Warsaw, HIV/AIDS advisor
Thursdays 4 pm – 7 pm (by appointment)
Place under the patronage of the Social Education Foundation, more information can be found here
About our
action
There are places in Poland where an HIV test cannot be done free of charge or the wait for the result is very long. We want to change that! Because this test saves lives!
As the Social Education Foundation, we have been educating people in Poland and Europe about sexually transmitted infections (STI), providing free and anonymous HIV testing and support for people living with HIV. Our goal is to provide universal access to testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, i.e. syphilis or HCV. We want everyone to be able to take charge of their sexual health!
As part of the “Order HIV Test” campaign, you can order a free HIV test for self-testing at home. The Foundation’s project was created so that people with difficult access to testing points or financial resources can take care of their health. This is only possible with the support of sponsors and your 1.5%. Together we can do more.
Want to know more about what we do? Take a look here
Your stories #selftestFES
We want to talk about our campaign as widely as possible to reach those we can support. That’s why we are on the radio, television and, above all, on social media, where everyone can talk about our campaign. We strongly count on your support. Share your impressions, retweet and share your stories. You are our voice, and together we will go even further.
Looking for an answer?
We understand that deciding to take a test may come with many questions.
We have gathered the most frequently asked ones into a Q&A list that will help clear your doubts and guide you clearly through the entire process.
Do you want to take a test at a stationary facility?
No problem! Everything is done anonymously, free of charge and lightning fast, just 15 minutes.
Additionally, to ensure high quality of services, in both PKDs the last customer is accepted half an hour before the center closes.
See where you can go and take the test on-site.
ul. Nugat 3
Ursynów
(at the premises of the Center for Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation)
Opening hours:
Monday–Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (last sample collection at 7:30 PM)
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (last sample collection at 1:30 PM)
NOTE! To ensure high-quality counseling, the last client is admitted at both PKD locations half an hour before closing time.
ul. Świętokrzyska 30
Warszawa
(at the FEDERA Health Center)
Opening hours:
Mon–Tue & Thu–Fri: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (last sample collection at 7:30 PM)
Wed: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (last sample collection at 11:30 AM)
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (last sample collection at 1:30 PM)
NOTE! To ensure high-quality counseling, the last client is admitted at both PKD locations half an hour before closing time.
You are from another town? Check where the center in your area is located:
aids.gov.pl
How to support the Foundation?
Do you want to help us work to prevent HIV and support people living with HIV?
You can do this in several ways:
Donate 1.5% of your tax. Our company registration number [KRS] is: 0000111176
Make a donation to the Social Education Foundation’s bank account.
Account number: 88 2490 0005 0000 4530 8538 5076
Join the fundraiser! Contribute any amount to the fundraiser to boost the pool and help us get closer to restarting the distribution of test kits.
Remember, every zloty counts!
The Social Education Foundation undertakes to allocate all funds received for its statutory purposes.
The Social Education Foundation is a non-governmental organization referred to in Article 3 paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Act on public benefit activities and volunteering (Journal of Laws No. 96, item 873) and conducts the activities specified in Article 4 paragraph 1 of this Act.
Our partners
Material created with the financial support of WHO.
The CORE project is a European initiative supporting community-led efforts in the prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.
Through the project, hundreds of thousands of tests were carried out, reaching people outside the healthcare system. As many as 89% of individuals with reactive results were successfully linked to care.
CORE demonstrates that community-based actions are effective, but require continued support and funding.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.