Free and anonymous HIV testing in Podgorica

The non-governmental organization Juventas, in cooperation with the Institute for Public Health and the Counseling Center for Voluntary and Confidential Counseling and Testing, will organize an anonymous and free HIV test on the premises of that organization on Tuesday.

As announced by Juventus, the testing will be organized from 17:21 to XNUMX:XNUMX.

"As previously emphasized, the rate of HIV testing in Montenegro is one of the lowest in Europe, and therefore it is necessary to introduce testing in the community as an established activity. It is very important that people who are more often exposed to risky behaviors can be tested and find out their status at an earlier stage of the infection so that, in the case of a positive test result, they can start treatment on time," the announcement says.

Testing in Juventas premises, as explained by that organization, is an activity that aims to make this practice available to all its citizens, and that also aims to influence the reduction of the epidemic and the spread of HIV, and enable a better quality of life.

"It is important to point out that it is estimated that over 400 people in Montenegro live with HIV. Of that, over 50 percent do not know about their status. Also, research shows that people with a known HIV status change their behavior and make sexual behavior safer for themselves and the environment they are directly exposed to," Juventas pointed out.

In the coming period, as pointed out by Juventas, it is important to build capacities that would contribute to community testing being established as a common public health practice.

Free HIV testing is part of the project "Improving the quality of services provided by NGOs to groups affected by HIV in Montenegro, which is implemented by Juventas with the support of the Canadian Fund, the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade.