Grbović: HIV infection present in Montenegro, but under control

HIV infection is constantly present in Montenegro, but it is under control, announced Assistant Minister of Health Mensud Grbović

"However, the infectious potential and the present social factors that can influence this infection to get out of control force us to be careful and ask the health system and society in general for even greater efforts and engagement," said Grbović at the opening of the National Commission on HIV/AIDS. .

He assessed that creating an adequate environment for those affected by HIV infection is a priority obligation and is conditioned by a dedicated fight against stigma and discrimination.

"We must not forget that universal human rights must not be questioned and that it is the duty of each of us to protect them," Grbović said.

He recalled that Montenegro had taken adequate measures since the beginning of the HIV epidemic and had introduced a program for HIV/AIDS in 1985.

Grbović reminded that in 2001, Montenegro established the National Multisectoral Commission for AIDS, then the first National Strategy for the fight against HIV/AIDS for the period 2005-2009, and then for the period 2010-2014.

He said that the Strategy was developed in a special way with key participants from the governmental and non-governmental sectors and the UN Thematic Group on AIDS.

Grbović assessed that the efforts of the governmental and non-governmental sectors have produced measurable and evident results, stating that a large number of national guides and protocols for HIV prevention and AIDS treatment have been developed.

He said that the key target groups received information on HIV prevention, the necessary material and treatment services, that the capacities of health workers, prison staff, peer educators, youth and NGOs were strengthened, the capacities of government institutions in the field of monitoring and evaluation of responses to HIV, including biological-behavioral surveillance.

"The national strategy for the response to HIV/AIDS for the period 2015-2020 was developed in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the National Commission for AIDS, i.e. the National Coordinating Body, with the technical assistance of the NGO CAZAS through a grant from the German Agency for International Cooperation - GIZ and the participation of key institutions and organizations from the government and NGO sectors," said Grbović.

He said that the presence of people from the population at the highest risk, who directly participated in the development of the strategy, was of particular importance in the development of the strategy.

Grbović said that the current strategy is based on the results and successes of the previous ones and recognized weaknesses during their implementation, based on the findings of the Mid-Term Review of the National Strategy to Fight HIV/AIDS and the Universal Access Plan, the results of biological behavioral surveillance (BBS).

He said that the latest strategy is based on other studies that were carried out in the ten-year period, as well as reviews of activities and reports on achievements during the implementation of projects financed by GFATM in the period from 2007-2014. years.

"The programs and activities within the existing strategic areas have been revised, so that their concept corresponds to the current situation and priorities. The activities within the operational objectives are to a large extent a continuation of the actions from the previous Strategies," Grbović said.

He stated that with the end of the GFATM grant, much more modest funding will be available for the national response to HIV and AIDS.

"In this sense, the obligation of the state and society as a whole, in the coming period, must be aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the national response to HIV and AIDS and all preventive programs and services of importance for populations at the highest risk, but also for the general population." Grbovic said.