World Day against HIV/AIDS/ Koçiu: More awareness is needed, periodic checks should be increased

2023-12-01 10:42:00, Shëndeti CNA

World Day against HIV/AIDS/ Koçiu: More awareness is needed, periodic

Minister Albana Koçiu

On the World Day of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Koçiu, together with the doctors of the Infectious Disease Hospital, have appealed for increased awareness, timely information and the performance of periodic checks as important elements for prevention of infection by this disease.

The minister has published a video message where people affected by this virus give an awareness message, based on their experience.

"At first I couldn't accept it, but then I started to adapt and every month I come to the outpatient infectious disease clinic and receive a free therapy. Today, I tell all my peers if you have HIV/AIDS, do not be afraid, nor ashamed, but treat it and save your life", - is the appeal of one of the affected, addressed to all young people.

During the meeting with the medical staff and medical students, Minister Koçiu emphasized that: "we need to work even more on awareness to reduce as much as possible both these barriers and the stigmatization that comes because of this disease".

"Although work has been done and we are not in the initial situations, there is still a need to talk more and to understand that it is possible to live with a sick person or someone affected by HIV/AIDS. we will have to do even more when it comes to testing, when it comes to how these types of patients are served, but at the end of the day we will all do this work together", Koçiu declared.

The Minister also visited the premises of the HIV/AIDS Outpatient Clinic at the Infectious Disease Hospital in QSUTN, where the sick are followed and receive 100% free treatment from the state, along with the necessary examinations.

World HIV/AIDS Day is organized every year on December 1 to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of this pandemic.

According to the data of the Institute of Public Health, Albania is a country with a low incidence of the spread of this infection. The number of newly diagnosed cases in 2023 is 113. As in previous years, more men than women were diagnosed with HIV in 2023, 87 and 26 respectively.

According to health experts, early diagnosis is very important in the course of HIV infection and the success of Antiretroviral (ART) treatment. Even during 2023, people diagnosed with HIV have had full access throughout the year to perform immunological assessment.

In our country there are 15 centers where the HIV test is performed, with a good distribution throughout the country. HIV testing is available at voluntary counseling and testing centers (QKTV), Outpatient Clinic at Tirana University Hospital Center, Microbiology Laboratory at Tirana University Hospital Center, SUSM "Shefqet Ndroqi", SUOGJ "Mbretëresha Geraldinë" and "Koco Gliozheni" ”, Regional Hospitals, laboratories/clinics/hospitals and the Institute of Public Health (ISHP). For blood donors, testing for HIV and other infectious agents is performed at the National Blood Transfusion Center./ CNA