About 800 people infected with HIV in early 2018

Chisinau, 30 November /MOLDPRES/- About 800 new cases of HIV infection were confirmed in Moldova during January-October 2018.

The data were made public by the National Agency for Public Health in the context of marking annually on 1 December of the World AIDS Day.

Most infected people are young, and the virus is sexually transmitted most often. At the same time, people who frequently inject drugs are among the sick. Also, about 50 per cent of people have this infection without knowing it.

In the context of the World AIDS Day, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection launched a social campaign on the matter. It aims to inform society about the need for HIV testing, as well as motivating for a tolerant attitude towards HIV-positive people, as four out of ten people living with HIV claim discrimination. At the same time, a HIV-Test online application was launched for the first time in Moldova, allowing everybody online to pass a test to check the likelihood of HIV infection.

At present, 62 advisory offices provide free counseling and testing services to the population. Also, everyone can take the test free, confidential and fast at the family doctor. At the same time, four social centers were opened in Chisinau, Balti, Comrat and Tiraspol. They provide assistance and protection to people affected by HIV / AIDS.

According to the ministry, in early 2018, about 12,000 cases of HIV infection were recorded in Moldova.