In the first ten months of this year, 742 new cases of HIV were confirmed, of which, 179 in the Transnistrian region. The infection affects young people of reproductive age, mostly heterosexuals. The data was presented by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection in the context of World AIDS Day, marked on December 1.
As of January 1, 2018, there were 12 734 cases of HIV infection. The government has assumed control over this epidemic by implementing the National Program for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and STIs for 2016 — 2020.
Innovative services of rapid testing based on capillary blood are implemented throughout the country. Antiretroviral treatment, treatment of opportunistic infections and co-infections, care and support for people infected with HIV, as well as prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, are granted in accordance with national protocols, developed on the basis of World Health Organization guidelines and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
More than 35 thousand people in groups at high risk of infection benefit from prevention services, with the support of the considerable resources provided by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Over the course of the last two years, four key population risk reduction projects have been funded.
World AIDS Day is marked annually on December 1, in solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS. In the Republic of Moldova, on this occasion, awareness and informative activities with the slogan "It is within your power!", within the social campaign "It is within your power to stop the HIV epidemic!" will take place.
