site.btaSecond Stage of National Anti-AIDS Campaign Begins

105 ECONOMY - HEALTHCARE - ANTI-AIDS CAMPAIGN - STAGE TWO

Second Stage of
National Anti-AIDS
Campaign Begins


Sofia, February 14 (BTA) - The second stage of the National Anti-AIDS Campaign began on Thursday under the motto "Learn Your Status", the Health Ministry said. The campaign is part of the Ministry's National Programme for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, implemented in partnership with regional health inspectorates, municipalities, NGOs, educational establishments, community centres, social institutions, and the media.

The campaign's second stage features over 150 anti-AIDS initiatives. Medical teams will offers consultations and testing for AIDS with a quick test in labs and consulting rooms for anonymous and free HIV testing at regional public health inspections and in the field.

Over 324,000 persons learned their HIV status in 2018. According to data of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, new 24 HIV-positive persons were registered between January 1 and February 8, 2019, bringing their official number in Bulgaria to 3,050.

In 2018, approximately 90 per cent of newly registered HIV positive Bulgarians became infected through sexual contact. The number of newly registered HIV-positive men was seven-fold higher than that of women, the Health Ministry said.

LI/DS