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World AIDS Day: 1,586 HIV patients in Armenia
12:11 - 01.12.13
December 1 is World AIDS Day.
Overall, 1,586 HIV cases have been recorded in Armenia since 1988,
with 228 cases last year and 205 this year, Armenia's National Center
for AIDS Prevention reports.
30-year-old Marine, who is working with HIV patients helping them to
overcome problems, has an HIV status. She knew about her state when
she got married in 2004 and visited a doctor in the third month of
pregnancy.
`My husband infected me. He knew about being infected only after
knowing about my state. After I knew about it, I had a psychological
shock and wanted to commit suicide,' she says.
Marine also spoke of treatment. She says that the treatment and
necessary medicines are free.
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria is working in
Armenia and will continue its activities until 2015. If the government
fails to fund further treatment of HIV patients from 2015 on, they
will face a most serious problem.
`The medicines are very expensive. Most of the HIV patients are
socially vulnerable. They can hardly make both ends meet,' Marine
says.
Elina Azatyan, Chairwoman of the Real World, Real People NGO - which
aims at improving HIV patients' living standards - told Tert.am that
people avoid being examined for AIDS.
`We are trying to suggest to people that they need regular medical
examination and should not be ashamed of it. Public awareness has
recently been raised. People are unaware of the importance of medical
examination, but they still do not turn to doctors,' she said.
Ms Azatyan points out the problem of raising awareness in Armenia's
regions. People prefer turning to doctors from Yerevan.
`In this case they are sure of secrecy,' she said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
12:11 - 01.12.13
December 1 is World AIDS Day.
Overall, 1,586 HIV cases have been recorded in Armenia since 1988,
with 228 cases last year and 205 this year, Armenia's National Center
for AIDS Prevention reports.
30-year-old Marine, who is working with HIV patients helping them to
overcome problems, has an HIV status. She knew about her state when
she got married in 2004 and visited a doctor in the third month of
pregnancy.
`My husband infected me. He knew about being infected only after
knowing about my state. After I knew about it, I had a psychological
shock and wanted to commit suicide,' she says.
Marine also spoke of treatment. She says that the treatment and
necessary medicines are free.
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria is working in
Armenia and will continue its activities until 2015. If the government
fails to fund further treatment of HIV patients from 2015 on, they
will face a most serious problem.
`The medicines are very expensive. Most of the HIV patients are
socially vulnerable. They can hardly make both ends meet,' Marine
says.
Elina Azatyan, Chairwoman of the Real World, Real People NGO - which
aims at improving HIV patients' living standards - told Tert.am that
people avoid being examined for AIDS.
`We are trying to suggest to people that they need regular medical
examination and should not be ashamed of it. Public awareness has
recently been raised. People are unaware of the importance of medical
examination, but they still do not turn to doctors,' she said.
Ms Azatyan points out the problem of raising awareness in Armenia's
regions. People prefer turning to doctors from Yerevan.
`In this case they are sure of secrecy,' she said.
Armenian News - Tert.am