We commemorate World AIDS Day and can even be reviewed anonymously

Bratislava, December 1st (TASR) – The motto of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Know your state”. On this occasion, the Office of Public Health (ÚVZ) SR recalls the possibility of an anonymous examination of anti-HIV antibodies at some of its regional offices. The symbol of World Day is the red ribbon every year. By blocking it, people are expressing solidarity with people suffering from HIV or AIDS infection.

“Early diagnosis and early treatment mean a better and longer life for people with HIV infection.” remembers the chief hygienist of the Slovak Republic Ján Mikas. According to the statistics of the Office, the number of cases infected with HIV in Slovakia is increasing. However, it is still one of the countries with the lowest incidence of infection. The growing number of official cases of the disease may also be due to increased interest in the exam.

Statistics also show that since the start of HIV / AIDS case monitoring in 1985 through September 2018, authorities have registered 1,046 cases of HIV infection. Of the 884 cases among citizens of the Slovak Republic, 783 occurred among men and 101 among women. In 116 people, HIV infection progressed to AIDS. During this period, 72 people infected with HIV died, 53 of them undergoing AIDS.

HIV antibody research is offered by the HIV / AIDS Counseling Centers at the selected regional public health offices of the Slovak Republic, the National Reference Center for HIV / AIDS Prevention at the Medical University Slovak Republic of Bratislava and the Clinical Microbiology Department of hospitals. It is also possible to ask a primary care physician to draw blood for testing.

HIV / AIDS counseling centers are located in Banská Bystrica, Žiar nad Hronom, Dolný Kubín, Liptovský Mikuláš, Žilina, Trnava, Bardejov, Poprad, Prešov, Svidník, Košice, Trebišov and Nitra. Last year, 838 people were examined anonymously, 918 consulted by phone about their condition.

Checkpoint has also been operating in Bratislava for a year for those interested in finding out their HIV status. You can be tested anonymously, for free and while you wait. It is provided by the civic association Dom svetla Slovensko. “Although HIV infection is not curable, it is very treatable nowadays. People with HIV lead practically normal lives. It is important to start treatment early. This will reduce the level of the virus to undetectable values. A successfully treated person is practically almost non-infectious “. says Jiří Pavlát, member of the association.

HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that causes you to lose immunity to infections and increases the likelihood of developing cancer. The terminal stage of HIV infection is AIDS – immunodeficiency syndrome.