The HIV pandemic in Moldova is concentrated. The HIV prevalence among the general population is of 0.2%. In the high-risk groups, such as injecting drug users and homosexuals, the prevalence of HIV represents 11.4 %. Among prisoners, which are also a high-risk group, the prevalence is of 3.7%, Iurie Klimashevchi, coordinator of the national program to prevent and control HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, stated in a roundtable meeting staged by the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family on the occasion of World AIDS Day that is marked on December 1, IPN reports.

According to Iurie Klimashevchi, the goal of the program is to minimize the consequences of the HIV pandemic and sexually transmitted diseases, especially among high-risk groups, and to decrease HIV-related mortality. Among the prevention activities carried out as part of the program, he mentioned the real time monitoring of prevention services among high-risk groups through the agency of the information system and gradual transfer of the financing for prevention services with resources from the Prevention Fund to the National Health Insurance House.

Irina Barbâroş, head of the Medical Division of the National Administration of Penitentiaries, said that informative, education and communication, counseling and testing services on HIV/AIDS are offered in penitentiaries. There are implemented services to prevent, diagnose and treat tuberculosis, syringe and needle exchange and condom distribution programs in a move to reduce the risk of infection with HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

It is estimated that 14,500 people in Moldova live with HIV. The official figure is of 9,386 persons, according to the situation on January 1, 2020. A number of 6,690 persons are under antiretroviral therapy.