From the beginning of the year, until the end of November, 31 people infected with HIV were registered, of which a little less than a fifth of people who have been diagnosed with HIV infection earlier, in the country of origin, but for the first time this year they are registered in our country, where they continue with treatment.
This was announced by the Institute for Public Health (IJZCG), on the occasion of December 1 - the World Day against HIV/AIDS. This year's campaign takes place under the slogan: "Choose the right path: my health, my right".
IJZCG indicates that HIV/AIDS continues to represent one of the world's most significant public health challenges, which has claimed 42,3 million lives so far.
"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. Health is one of the basic human rights and everyone should have equal access to health services, including prevention, treatment and care services," writes IJZCG.
It is estimated that during the year 2023, 1,3 million people in the world will be infected with HIV, and that 630.000 of them will die of AIDS. It is believed that there are 39,9 million people living with HIV in the world, of which 30,7 million had access to therapy.
"The first case of HIV infection in Montenegro was registered in 1989, and since then, with the exception of the year of the COVID-1989 pandemic, when the number of registered cases decreased, the number of newly registered persons has increased every year. According to data from the HIV/AIDS registry, since the beginning epidemic in 2023, until the end of 425, a total of 69 persons infected with HIV were registered (including persons with a regulated residence status who register for the first time in our system, i.e. persons with previously diagnosed HIV infection in the country of origin, who continued to receive treatment in the same period, the largest number of HIV infections (76%). detected at the age of 20-39, and a significantly higher number of infected are male. The most common way of transmission of infection (84% of cases) is through unprotected sexual intercourse. The largest number of infected are registered in Podgorica and Primorska region," the announcement reads.
IJZCG points out that HIV testing, early detection of the disease and the introduction of therapy are of immeasurable importance, both for individual health and for public health.
"Detecting the infection and starting treatment early prevents the development of health complications, improves the quality of life, and extends life expectancy. Today, people not only live with HIV, but also grow old. Also, treatment reduces the possibility of transmission of infections to uninfected people, because a person on therapy , has a good therapeutic response and an unmeasurable level of virus in the blood, cannot transmit the infection."
They also note that stigma and discrimination represent significant obstacles to testing, saying that "together, we can help change that."
The Institute reminds that all citizens can have confidential and free testing at the Counseling Center for Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing of the IJZCG, every working day from 15:30 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. "Testing is done with quick tests, no referral or health card is required, the result is ready in less than XNUMX minutes."
As part of the celebration of World HIV/AIDS Day, IJZCG is organizing HIV testing on Sunday, December 1, in the premises of the Counseling Center for voluntary confidential counseling and testing from 12:20 to XNUMX:XNUMX.
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