Ministry of Health: HIV testing is an act of responsibility towards oneself and others

Testing for HIV is an act of responsibility towards oneself and others, the Ministry of Health announced on the occasion of March 4 - National HIV Testing Day.

National HIV Testing Day, they said, is celebrated throughout Montenegro through the organization of free and confidential testing, extended working hours of counseling centers, outreach activities in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, distribution of educational materials and intensification of public health campaigns aimed at raising awareness. Health institutions and partner organizations, they added, on that day especially emphasize the availability of services, the importance of early diagnosis and the importance of a responsible attitude towards one's own and public health.

The Ministry of Health established this date at the initiative of the Institute of Public Health, with the aim of systematically and continuously encouraging citizens to get tested on time. By declaring March 4th as National HIV Testing Day, they said, the state's commitment to placing prevention, early detection and access to therapy among public health priorities has been institutionally confirmed.

"HIV testing is a responsible act of caring for one's own health and the well-being of the community. It is the only reliable way to determine the presence of the infection and is a key step towards its suppression. Early detection allows for timely initiation of therapy, preservation of quality of life and long-term stability. When HIV is diagnosed on time and treatment begins without delay, it is possible to lead a long, fulfilling and quality life," they point out in the statement.

They remind that today in Montenegro there are numerous free, fast and confidential testing options available. Rapid tests can be performed in health institutions, as well as in the field in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, with formalized memorandums of cooperation with public health institutions. This, the Ministry says, ensures the availability of the service with a high level of expertise and discretion.

"In recent years, the testing system has been further improved by establishing a network of regional counseling centers for voluntary, confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) at health centers in Bar, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Podgorica, Nikšić, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Pljevlja and Budva. During 2025, 1.040 tests were conducted in these counseling centers, with 949 people tested," they add.

According to UNAIDS estimates, obtained using the SPECTRUM methodology, the prevalence of HIV in the population aged 15–49 in Montenegro is 0,1 percent. It is estimated that around 400 people are living with HIV, of whom 69 percent know their HIV status, which further indicates the need for continuous encouragement of testing, say the health sector.

They point out that modern antiretroviral therapy available in Montenegro allows for the reduction of viral load below the level of detection. "A person on therapy and having a sustained, undetectable viral response cannot transmit HIV to uninfected persons, which represents a strong public health argument for early testing and timely initiation of treatment," the statement reads.

They urged citizens to get informed and get tested for HIV, because knowledge of one's own status, as they said, is the foundation of personal safety, responsibility, and a joint effort to end the epidemic.