The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Zahira Virani signed on 19 July a two and a half year agreement with 12 governmental and nongovernmental partners in BiH that is worth 12 million KM, which would ensure the constitution of the support of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of people afflicted with AIDS until the end of 2015.
The agreement was signed with partners of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), FBiH Institute for Public Health, Institute for Public Health of the RS, Organization “Partnership for Health” and “World Vision”, Association of Citizens “Viktorija”, “Proi”, “AAA”, “Apoha”, “Poenta”, and the Association “Margina” and “XY”.
There will be a focus on the protection of the population at risk, in a statement from UNDP.
Virani told implementing partners of this program that although the number of new cases of HIV in BiH is relatively small, from 10-12 new HIV positive cases a year, they still have to keep focused with continued interventions intended to prevent the spread of the disease within particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups.
“The facts show that in BiH until now, there are 222 registered cases of HIV infections, while in neighboring countries it is much higher. In Croatia it is around 1.000 people and in Serbia around 2.500, which tells us that the current prevention program in BIH is very successful’’, she said.
In a UNDP statement, it states that the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH gives full support to these activities, and in cooperation with entity ministries of health and the Department of Health of Brčko District is successfully implementing program activities outlined in the strategy for prevention and the fight against HIV/AIDS from 2004-2009, as well as in the new strategy 2011-2016.
These strategic documents, as well as supporting programs, recognized and highly praised the officials of the European Commission for the recent gathering on HIV/AIDS in Brussels, due to which BiH officials hope that after 2015 they will have the support of the EU in the continuation of the implementation of quality programs in order to maintain a low number of cases of HIV in BiH.
In the next 2.5 years the project will continue with prevention activities of HIV, with a focus on the population at greatest risk.
(Source: Dnevni Avaz)
