Vujović: Breaking taboos about sexuality

In order to bring HIV completely under control, that is, to cover everyone who needs it with therapy, the hypocritical taboos related to sexuality must be broken, said the executive director of Juvenatas Ivana Vujovića.

On the occasion of the 1st de-center of the World Day against HIVA, she said that sexual health is part of comprehensive health and that is why it is irresponsible to neglect it.

"We need to have information, to protect ourselves and to get tested. The most often affected by HIV are young people, and prevention programs should be dedicated to them, through educational institutions, health institutions and media campaigns," Vujović told the MINA agency.

She said that you should visit Population counseling centers, Counseling centers for voluntary and confidential HIV testing or Youth counseling centers at all health centers.

"The union of high school students with whom we are celebrating this day came up with a slogan that supports the idea of ​​promoting counselors - Knowledge protects you and advice teaches you," Vujović said.

The head of the department for sexually transmitted infections at the Institute of Public Health, Alma Čičić, said that according to UNAIDS estimates, at the end of last year, about 36,7 million people were living with HIV, of which 19,5 million had access to therapy. .

"During 2016, 1,8 million were newly infected with HIV, and one million people died as a result of AIDS," Čičić told MINA agency.

According to her, from the beginning of the epidemic in 1989 until the end of last year, 228 people infected with HIV were registered in Montenegro, of which 106 people were in the advanced stage of the disease (AIDS) when the infection was discovered, and 122 of them was registered in the asymptomatic phase of the disease.

In the same period, as Čičić said, 48 people died of AIDS.

She pointed out that according to data from the Registry, at the end of last year, 180 people were living with HIV in Montenegro, which makes the prevalence of this infection 0,03 percent. "According to estimates, there are fewer people living with HIV in Montenegro of 500 people", Čičić pointed out.

As she added, the largest number of HIV infections are diagnosed between the ages of 20-39, and a significantly larger number of infected are male.

Čičić explained that HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact, through infected blood and blood products, from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

"HIV is not transmitted through normal social contact using public bathrooms, swimming pools, showers, saunas, coughing, treatment in hospitals, clinics and dentists if the usual hygiene measures are applied, sharing common cutlery, scratches and bites from domestic animals", she stressed. Uncle.

She explained that the risk of HIV transmission can be reduced by avoiding early sexual intercourse, correct use of condoms during sexual intercourse, information and education, counseling and testing, control of blood and blood products, use of sterile syringes for injection (, caution during work and contact with blood.

Čičić stated that testing is the only way to determine whether a person is infected with HIV, and that in the past few years it has been significantly improved by the establishment of eight regional Counseling Centers.

"Although the rate of HIV testing has been steadily increasing in recent years, its level is still low in Montenegro, and additional efforts need to be made in order to increase that rate," Čičić said.

The low level of testing, as she explained, affects the fact that a significant percentage of people infected with HIV are diagnosed at a later stage of the infection, which increases the likelihood of developing complications and premature death.

The Montenegrin Foundation for HIV (MHF) assessed that people with HIV still face stigma and discrimination in Montenegrin society.

They pointed out that stigmatization is particularly visible in the health care system because people with HIV spend most of their time in the institutions of this system.

"By entering the disease code, these people are stigmatized, and the disease code itself carries with it the possibility of abuse and causing mental unrest to both the patient and his family members," stated the MHF.

They announced that no HIV-positive patient reported irregularities and inhumane behavior to the protectors of patients' rights and the Ombudsman, even though they have the right to do so.

"What are the reasons for this behavior, we cannot claim with certainty, but we know from experience that patients are afraid of future treatment from healthcare workers in case of initiation of proceedings to exercise their rights", emphasized the MHF.

As they added, the fear of the "spreading" of rumors and disclosure of personal information was also expressed, which could lead to various consequences in the lives of these persons.

The MHF said that there was a pronounced problem with exercising the right to treatment and coming every month to get prescriptions for antiretroviral therapy, which is taken for life.

"A shift has been made, so patients on one referral from the Health Center come once every three months, but they can still pick up therapy from prescriptions only for one month," said the MHF.

According to them, in the coming period, there are big challenges in order to reduce the stigmatization and condemnation of society towards people who have HIV and to see them like people with any other type of infection or disease.

They pointed out that people with HIV are offered diagnosis, treatment and educational counseling services in public institutions of the system.

In the MHF, they believe that psychological and psychosocial support and therapeutic counseling are necessary within the Infectious Clinic, which would also include counseling for psychological support of patients and family members.

The Director General of the Directorate for Health Protection in the Ministry of Health, Alma Hajdarpašić Drešević, said that in order to respond to the HIV epidemic, Montenegro formed the National Commission for HIV/AIDS and adopted the National Strategy for the period 2015-2020.

She pointed out that the Government has allocated EUR 100 for this year, as support for preventive services and other preventive activities in this area.

"For the next three years, the Government will provide EUR 125 thousand for these purposes, and the Global Fund, as a long-term solution for HIV prevention and treatment of people living with HIV, will donate a non-refundable grant for the next three years, in the amount of EUR 185 thousand each ", announced Hajdarpašić Drešević.

As she added, the government will allocate another 50 thousand EUR for addiction and mental health next year.

Hajdarpašić Drešević said that the new list of drugs will provide adequate therapy, which is applied in modern countries.

She said that, in addition to free testing, the state provided free treatment, counseling, education, needles, syringes, condoms, syringes, promotional material, brochures, and the Ministry of Health prepared and implemented guidelines for the drug buprenorphine, which is used by drug addicts.

According to Hajdarpašić Drešević, the biggest challenge is how to ensure the financial sustainability of preventive services even after three years of Global Fund support.

She said that the challenge is also the detection of risk groups and those infected in the asymptomatic phase of the disease, education of health workers and maintaining continuity in the procurement of art medicines.