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International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is marked on May 19


https://www.ipn.md/en/international-aids-candlelight-memorial-day-is-marked-on-may-19-7967_1048763.html

The HIV infection in Moldova remains at the level of an epidemic concentrated among the key population – persons who inject drugs, sex industry workers and men who have sex with men. According to statistics, 12,784 cases of HIV were recorded in Moldova on January 1, 2019, IPN reports, quoting the National Public Health Agency.

Since 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day has been annually celebrated on the third Sunday of May, conducted by over 1,200 organizations from 115 countries to commemorate the lost lives and to raise social awareness of HIV/AIDS.

According to the Agency, 905 new cases of HIV were recorded last year, 225 of which in the Eastern districts of Moldova. Most of the HIV-infected persons are sexually active people of reproductive age.

Prevention activities intended for drug addicts, sex industry workers and the LGBT community are carried out to reduce HIV transmission of HIV, including such innovative services as capillary blood-based disease diagnosis, HIV prevention services through commercial drugstores, IDU overdose management, HIV prevention projects implemented with the prophylaxis funds of the National Health Insurance Company.

As many as 5,865 patients were receiving antiretroviral treatment in Moldova on January 1, 2019.

In 2017, three in four persons (75%) globally knew the HIV status, while four in five persons (79%) of those who knew the HIV status accessed antiretroviral therapy.