The Association of Infectious Diseases in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Partnership for Health announced, on the occasion of the World Day against HIV/AIDS, which is celebrated on December 1, free testing for HIV and hepatitis B and C.
Testing will be organized at 18 locations in 12 cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banjaluka, Mostar, Zenica, Travnik, Livno, Doboj, Bijeljina and Zvornik, as well as in Trebinje.
This activity is carried out with the support of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS), AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Medicopharmacia and Lenisa.
According to a joint report by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization, there are currently around 39 million people living with HIV in the world.
More than 1.3 million new cases are registered annually, while about 630,000 people die annually from AIDS-related diseases.
The HIV epidemic remains unevenly distributed around the world. As much as 65% of all people living with the virus are in Sub-Saharan Africa, where some countries have a prevalence of more than 20% in the general population.
The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
About 450 to 500 people infected with HIV currently live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 20 to 30 new cases are registered every year.
As pointed out by Prof. Dr. Rusmir Baljić from the Association of Infectious Diseases in BiH:
“The largest number of newly diagnosed persons are men between the ages of 25 and 45, with the infection being predominantly sexually transmitted, especially among the MSM population (men who have sex with men).”
Professor Baljić emphasizes: “This is precisely why the role of testing is crucial. HIV infection in the early stages usually has no symptoms, and a person can be unknowingly infected for years.”
Early diagnosis allows:
- timely initiation of treatment,
- better clinical outcome,
- significantly reducing the possibility of transmitting the virus.
Thanks to modern antiretroviral therapy, people who take the medication regularly can achieve an undetectable viral load, which means they do not transmit HIV sexually.
Experts recommend that all adults be tested at least once in their lifetime, while more frequent testing is advised:
- persons with multiple sexual partners,
- MSM population,
- sex workers,
- pregnant women,
- partners of people living with HIV,
- to anyone who believes they have been exposed to risk.
World AIDS Day reminds us that this issue is not only medical, but also social.
The key steps in the fight against HIV are:
- removing stigma,
- ensuring availability of testing,
- enabling access to modern therapy,
- dissemination of accurate and verified information.
The message remains clear: “Get tested, get informed and protect yourself and others!”, he reports Radio Zenit.
