About the Aids Hilfe Bern and the services it offers

Aids Hilfe Bern answers your questions about HIV and sexuality. We have different services for migrants. People living with HIV and their close social network get support from us regardless of their background. Experts provide counselling, documentary material and training.

Aids Hilfe Bern was founded in 1985 and has been approved by the canton of Bern as a counselling centre for all questions relating to HIV and sexuality. We are a non-profit organization that is non-political and has no attachment to any religious denomination.

Information and Counselling
Have you got any questions about the risks of an HIV infection or of other sexually transmitted infections? Would you like to undergo an HIV test? Are you in a new relationship and have  got any questions about sexuality, contraception or protection against sexually transmitted infections? Do you have a daughter or a son whom you want to provide with information about adolescence and contraception? Are you HIV positive and in need of a confidential place where you can get support and find someone to talk to?

We offer information, counselling and documentary material regarding:

  • HIV, Aids and other sexually transmitted infections, infection risks.
  • HIV test, syphilis test (free of charge, anonymous, confidential)
  • Sexuality and sexual identities
  • Risky situations: You had, for example, unprotected sexual intercourse or oral sex with seminal fluid in the mouth and therefore want some advice
  • Safer Sex rules
  • Contraception and family planning
  • Puberty and adolescence of daughters and sons
  • Condom, femidom

Counselling takes place in a confidential and anonymous setting; and it is free of charge. You do not have to give your name. No information is going to be forwarded to other people or offices without your consent.

How to get information and advice:

  • Telephonic advice: 031 390 36 36. Mon-Fri: 9–12 am, closed on Tues afternoon.
  • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Face-to-face counselling: at the Aids Hilfe Bern. Please make an appointment.

Counselling is offered in German, English and French. Further languages are provided by intercultural interpreters on request (e.g. Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Albanese, Tigrinya, Somali, Amharic, several African idioms and others).

Looking for information brochures and leaflets, condoms, femidoms?
Aids Hilfe Bern has got a wide range of brochures and leaflets in different languages on every topic relating to sexuality. Condoms and femidoms can also be given in small quantities.

Do you want to take an anonymous HIV or syphilis test?
This is an offer to migrants – specifically to asylum seekers and undocumented migrants (sans-papiers). We test for HIV and/or syphilis. You receive the result within 30 minutes. Testing and counselling are anonymous, highly confidential and free of charge.

Aids Hilfe offers tests and counselling in different languages (German, French, English and Italian). Consultations in other languages on demand; we work with approved intercultural interpreters.

See also test offers (German), test offers (French)

Are you living with HIV or are you close to someone, who is HIV positive?
Face-to-face counselling and support for HIV positive people and their close social network. Within our confidential face-to-face counselling, we answer questions regarding:

  • living with HIV
  • diagnosed HIV positive – what to do now?
  • disclosing HIV status
  • development of an HIV infection
  • HIV and family planning
  • treatment and adherence
  • sexuality and relationship
  • Legal issues and financial aspects.

Once a month, people with HIV meet at the Aids Hilfe Bern to talk about their experiences (in German) in an open-minded manner. You are very welcome to these meetings: «HIV-positive Menschen treffen sich!»

We emphasize the importance of confidentiality. Without the explicit consent of the client, no information is forwarded to other persons or organizations. Everyone with HIV/Aids has got free access to our services. Aspects such as origin, resident permit status, sex, sexual identity or drug addiction do not play a role and are treated confidentially.

Counselling is offered in German/English/French. For further languages an interpreter can be involved on request.

Call us if you wish a face-to-face counselling. It is always our pleasure to give you an appointment: 031 360 36 36.

Do you work with migrants or are you an active member of a cultural association or a religious community?
We offer training, specialist counselling and documentary material for specialists in the asylum, integration, educational or social sector, as well as for key personalities and leaders from cultural and religious groups.

Migration Experts Service and Trainings

How to protect yourself against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections?
Please read the most important rules listed below. If you follow these rules, you adequately protect yourself against HIV and also against other sexually transmitted infections!

SAFER SEX

  • Sexual intercourse (i.e., penetration) only with approved condoms (“OK” or “CE” seals).
  • If required, but particularly for anal sex, use additional water-soluble or silicone-based lubricant (no oils or ointments).
  • Do not get sperm in your mouth, do not swallow sperm.
  • Do not get menstrual blood in the mouth, do not swallow menstrual blood.

SAFER USE
If you inject drugs, you can reduce the risk of HIV or a hepatitis C infection by not sharing needles or other injecting equipment.

  • Always use a new, sterile syringe and needle. No needle exchange!
  • Use personal equipment (spoon, filter, water).

Further information in German/French/Italian/English on the Aids-Hilfe Schweiz homepage: www.aids.ch

Further offers for migrants:

Multicolore
Migration