The county hospital is the only hospital unit in Suceava that manages the national program for the prevention, surveillance and control of HIV/AIDS infection and issues prescriptions for treatment. Long distances and restrictions in recent years have caused many patients to stop coming to the Outpatient Department of Infectious Diseases in Suceava. Of the county’s more than 320 patients, only 250 are on doctors’ medical records n The Red Ribbon Association celebrates World HIV/AIDS Day in early December.
HIV/AIDS patients in our county can only take life-sustaining medicines from the county hospital because Suceava hospital is the only hospital unit in the county that manages the national program for prevention, surveillance and the control of HIV/AIDS infection. Many of the patients from remote areas of the county, give up treatment and implicitly the fight with this cruel disease due to the long distances they have to travel every month. and the restrictions imposed against the background of the Coronvirus pandemic of the past two years, have recently decreased the number of patients in the Sucevan infectious disease doctors’ records who are undergoing some form of treatment, but in their place are Since more new cases have been diagnosed, the number of patients continues to grow.
The Red Ribbon Association organizes actions every year in the beginning of December to celebrate World HIV/AIDS Day, thus trying to convey the message that every person must join the fight to stop the negative impact of HIV/AIDS. HIV, to stop the transmission of this virus, to stop the isolation of people diagnosed with this virus or AIDS. “The campaign aims to bring the problem of HIV infection to the attention of the community, the fact that people with HIV exist, that they have the right to a normal life, to health, to education, inviting the population to information, to openness, acceptance and tolerance. This right includes the right of everyone to programs of prevention and treatment, the right to decide about one’s own health, the right to be treated. At the same time, the campaign’s messages focus on raising awareness among the population in general and in particular of vulnerable groups on the methods of transmission, prevention, testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS infection and on the promotion of healthy behaviors related to one’s sex life”, explained the representatives of the Red Ribbon Suceava Association The Day World HIV/AIDS Conference was inaugurated in 1988 at the World AIDS Conference in London. The day is marked on the one hand to raise awareness and commemorate those who have died from these diseases, on the other hand to celebrate the achievement of greater access to treatment and prevention services. At the same time, awareness of the devastating effects of AIDS and support for measures to combat it are being considered. Campaigns are organized every year to draw attention to the risks of HIV transmission and the current possibilities for prevention and treatment.
As can be seen from the statistical data of the Infectious Diseases Section of Suceava County Hospital, the number of residents of Suceava diagnosed with HIV is increasing year by year. A further 17 patients, aged between 15 and 60, have been diagnosed since the beginning of this year. The number of HIV-positive people in the county thus reached 324. More than half of the patients in the records of the Suceava Directorate of Public Health come from the Fălticeni area, followed by the Suceava and Vatra Dornei areas. Pregnant women continue to be among those infected with HIV year after year. Five HIV-positive women gave birth last year and the babies are still being monitored.
The monthly cost of treatment for these patients is approximately 360,216 lei. For the national HIV/AIDS prevention, surveillance and control program, DSP received 12,000 lei, money used to test new cases. Even though there are over 320 patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the county, only 250 are on infectious disease physician registries for treatment. (Cristina RUSTI)
