The HIV/AIDS epidemic can only be stopped by improving the available services for this infection and by reducing the stigma and discrimination of vulnerable populations throughout the world, said the Institute for Public Health (IJZ).
The IJZ, in a statement on the occasion of the World AIDS Day, stated that this year's campaign is taking place under the slogan "Let the communities lead".
"All the initiatives that have been implemented for years aim to raise awareness about HIV infection, but also to remind of the importance of the results achieved in prevention and treatment, providing support to infected people, as well as paying tribute to the deceased," said the IJZ.
As they said, the celebration of December 1 is a call to action and should emphasize the significant role of civil society organizations in stopping the HIV epidemic.
"Organizations of people living with HIV and organizations of people who are at increased risk and more affected by HIV are the first line of progress in the response to the HIV epidemic," the statement said.
It is added that these communities connect people, facilitate access to preventive services for people who are at increased risk, facilitate connection with institutions of the health system, while respecting and promoting human rights.
"Community leadership roles must be key in all HIV plans and programs, as well as in their budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation," the statement said.
The IJZ said that HIV/AIDS still represents one of the world's most significant public health challenges and that it has claimed 40,4 million lives so far.
They emphasized that gender inequalities, inequalities faced by key, vulnerable populations, inequalities in access to preventive services and treatment, affect the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
"The HIV/AIDS epidemic can only be stopped by improving available HIV services and reducing stigma and discrimination of key populations throughout the world," said the IJZ.
As they stated, it is estimated that 1,3 million people were infected with HIV in the world last year, and that 630 thousand people died of AIDS.
"It is believed that there are 39 million people living with HIV in the world, of which 29,8 million had access to therapy," said the IJZ.
They pointed out that the first case of HIV infection in Montenegro was registered in 1989 and since then, excluding the year of the COVID-pandemic when the number of registered cases decreased, the number of newly registered persons has increased every year.
"From the beginning of the epidemic in 1989 until the end of last year, a total of 371 people infected with HIV were registered, including people with regulated residence status who are registering in our system for the first time", said the IJZ and added that in that period, 67 people died of AIDS.
"Using epidemiological models, it is estimated that the actual number of people living with HIV in our country is about 400, so it is considered that more than a fifth of the infected have not been diagnosed, that is, they are not aware of their HIV status," the statement said.
It is stated that the largest number of HIV infections - 77 percent - are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 39, and a significantly larger number of infected are male.
It is emphasized that the most common route of infection transmission, in 86 percent of cases, is through unprotected sexual intercourse.
The IJZ stated that the largest number of infected people was registered in Podgorica, 44 percent of them, and the coastal region - 37 percent.
"During this year, until the end of November, 46 people infected with HIV were registered, of which more than a third are people who have been diagnosed with HIV infection before in their country of origin, used therapy in another country, but are receiving therapy from this year in our country", said the IJZ.
They explained that HIV is a virus that binds to the body's immune cells and destroys them.
"People living with this virus can feel and look completely healthy and be symptom-free for years, not knowing they are infected and can transmit the virus to others. The only way for someone to find out if he is infected with HIV is to take an HIV test", warned the IJZ.
As they said, the HIV virus is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, contact with infected blood, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
The IJZ emphasized that HIV is not transmitted through normal social contact - kissing, hugging, shaking hands, using public bathrooms, swimming pools, showers, saunas, coughing, sneezing, treatment in hospitals, clinics and dentists, if the usual hygiene measures are applied .
As they stated, the virus is not transmitted by sharing common cutlery, scratches and bites of domestic animals and insect bites, caring for people infected with HIV and AIDS, if the usual hygiene standards are applied.
The Institute said that the risk of HIV transmission increases by entering into risky sexual relations with unknown persons, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, changing multiple sexual partners, not using condoms, as well as using non-sterile equipment for injecting drugs.
"If HIV infection is detected in time, at an earlier stage, and if treatment is started immediately, a person infected with HIV can have a long and quality life," said the IJZ.
They emphasized that antiretroviral drugs lead to a decrease in the amount of the virus below the level of detection, which prevents the transmission of the virus to healthy people, that is, a person infected with HIV, who is on therapy and has a good therapeutic response, cannot transmit the virus to uninfected people.
The IJZ pointed out that, apart from the availability of modern therapy, family and community support are important elements for maintaining a good quality of life for people with HIV.
As they said, HIV testing, early detection of the disease and introduction of therapy is of immeasurable importance, both for individual health and public health.
"Detecting the infection and starting treatment early prevents the development of health complications, improves the quality of life, and extends the expected duration of life," says the announcement.
It is stated that today people not only live with HIV, but also grow old.
"Also, the treatment reduces the possibility of transmission of infections to the uninfected, because a person who is on therapy and has a good therapeutic response and an unmeasurable level of virus in the blood, cannot transmit the infection," the statement added.
As stated, stigma and discrimination represent significant obstacles to testing.
The IJZ said that they provide confidential and free testing to all citizens at the HIV Counseling Center in the Institute's building, every working day from 15 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.
"The testing is done with quick tests, no referral or health card is required, the result is ready in less than 30 minutes," said the IJZ.
They said that, as part of the celebration of December 1, an all-day HIV testing was organized in the premises of the HIV Counseling Center of the IJZ, from 20 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.
"Also, as part of the celebration of December 1, anonymous and free HIV testing is organized in the House of Health in Podgorica, from 18 to 21 p.m.," the IJZ stated.
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