The non-governmental organization (NGO) CAZAS announced today that in cooperation with the Bar Health Center, it is organizing an action of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the drop-in center on Thursday, May 18, from 12:18 to XNUMX:XNUMX.
They said that the testing is free, no referral or health certificate is required, rapid tests are used and the results are ready in no more than 30 minutes.
"In addition to testing, free and anonymous counseling with experts on the topic of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis as well as preventive material will be available for all citizens. The drop-in center of the NGO CAZAS is located at the address Stara raskrsnica bb (near the railway station in Bar) and it is not necessary to make an appointment for the test, but just come between 12:18 and XNUMX:XNUMX," said CAZAS.
They said that for any additional information about the testing campaign, drop-in center and counseling, citizens can contact the NGO CAZAS team by phone 067 600 988 and 067 602 345 (Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram) as well as via social networks @nvocazas.
"The HIV epidemic is still a major global public health problem and estimates are that at the end of 2021 there were 38,4 million people living with HIV in the world. About one fifth of people who are infected with HIV do not know that they have HIV which is why it is very important to continuously work on increasing coverage through testing and removing barriers to affordable testing, especially for vulnerable categories. The importance of early testing is great, because if HIV is detected at an early stage and treatment is started on time, a person can have a long, high-quality and productive life and have healthy offspring. With a good therapeutic response, people with HIV today not only live but also grow old, and people with HIV have the same life expectancy as people who are not infected. It is important to emphasize that people who achieve an unmeasurable number of viral copies in the blood, they cannot further transmit the infection," CAZAS said.
They stated that HIV testing is recommended for every person who has had unprotected sex.
"Everyone who does not know whether they should be tested can do an anonymous and free self-assessment test for HIV and sexually transmitted infections at https://zdravlje.co.me/zdravisa/", the announcement concludes.
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