On the occasion of 1 December, World AIDS Day, the University Clinical Centre Tuzla,Clinic for Infectious Diseases in cooperation with the Tuzla Canton Institute of Public Health, the Association of nurses and technicians of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association “Land of Children” Tuzla and the Youth Theater Tuzla organized a series of activities with aim to raise public awareness of personal responsibility and motivation to overcome HIV/AIDS- related prejudices and stigma that negatively impact HIV testing rates.
To celebrate World AIDS Day, the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Clinic for Infectious Diseases hosted HIV/AIDS lectures seminar. Prim Dr. Sana Šabović, chief of the Department for AIDS, respiratory and communicable diseases delivered the lecture about AIDS for students of Medical faculty, University of Tuzla and Medical High School.
In addition to HIV/AIDS lecture seminar, visitors of Konzum Family Center today had the opportunity to obtain HIV/AIDS education materials and to see an interesting performance by the Youth Theater Tuzla. Moreover, during the day and night, Counseling Centre for voluntary, confidential and free testing for HIV and Hepatitis C virus is offering anonymous HIV testing free of charge.
Dr. Rahima Jahić, infectologists from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases said that since the opening of Counseling Center 36 persons have been reported reported with an HIV infection. ” There are 22 persons in the current medical records, of whom 13 is using antiretroviral therapy. In the year 2016, there were 5 HIV positive persons reported.
Over the last five years Bosnia and Herzegovina reported on average 20 to 25 newly infected with HIV, which means that our country belongs to a group of low-prevalence countries. This year’s motto “Hands Up for #HIV Prevention” speaks to the very real need to continue and expand on HIV prevention education and testing for HIV. In this regard Dr. Rahima Jahić said that thanks to powerful antriretroviral therapy patients can live a long life if the disease is diagnosed and treated early.
