site.bta Bulgaria Has Achieved Impressive Results in HIV/AIDS Fight - Expert

Bulgaria Has Achieved Impressive Results in HIV/AIDS Fight - Expert

Varna, on the Black Sea, August 4 (BTA) - Sandra Irbe, Portfolio Manager for Bulgaria at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Thursday said that this country had achieved impressive results in fighting HIV/AIDS. Speaking in Varna, she added that if the authorities want this to continue, they should provide financing for various programmes after the Global Fund withdraws in the autumn.

There will probably be less money for projects, but if it is used more effectively, the results will be just as good, according to Irbe. In her view, it would be best to integrate prevention programmes to save money. In the future Bulgaria will receive Global Fund financing only if the projects are carried out jointly with other countries.

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa has been curbed, said Irbe. The number of infected people has increased in Europe, and things are worst in Russia and Ukraine. She said she did not consider migrants as a threat and a risk of increasing the number of HIV carriers.