Bulgaria, December 1, 2021
For yet another year, the international community celebrates December 1 - World AIDS Day. This year it is entitled "End inequality. End AIDS"
On December 1, 2021, the WHO calls upon world leaders and citizens to unite against inequalities and reach out to people who do not currently receive basic HIV services. Forty years after the first cases were reported, HIV still threatens the world. Separation, inequality and disregard for human rights have allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates inequalities and difficulties in health care delivery, a challenge for many people living with HIV.
According to the WHO, nearly 38 million people worldwide live with HIV/AIDS, with the number of newly infected people in 2020 being 1.5 million and the number of deaths being 680,000. Globally, in 2020, nearly 73% of those infected receive antiretroviral therapy. In Bulgaria, a total of 1,936 people with HIV are being followed up in the HIV / AIDS treatment sectors, and 1,910 (99%) of them are receiving antiretroviral therapy. In our country treatment is free for all people in need, regardless of their health insurance status. The therapy prolongs and improve quality of the of PLHIV and improves their quality of life. Bulgaria remains a country with low HIV prevalence - the frequency of newly registered cases of HIV infection per 100 thousand population for Bulgaria is 2.9 in 2020, and for comparison - the average for EU countries is 3.3.
From 1986 to November 19, 2021, a total of 3,702 people with HIV infection were registered in Bulgaria. Since the beginning of 2021, 219 new HIV-positive people have been discovered. There is a tendency in recent years for the number of newly registered men to be higher than for women. The difference in the ratio of men / women in the current year continues to grow - 6.1: 1 (86% men and 14% women).
According to preliminary data, more than 182,811 people were tested for HIV in the first ten months of the year. The trend of infection in recent years has continued. Nearly 93% of new cases of HIV infection have been sexually transmitted (45% are men who have had sexual intercourse with other men and 48% are people with heterosexual contact). Of all newly registered 5.5% were infected by injecting drug use.
Unfortunately, after the withdrawal of the Global Fund from the country, very little is being done on the ground and vulnerable groups remain uncovered by prevention activities and capacity building support. Many active and competent NGOs have closed. Therefore, the activities of BFPA are worthy of admiration:
- In the last 4 months BFPA’s team in Pleven - Dr. Krassimir Romanov and Borislava Ivanova, has performed 320 HIV tests, mainly in the prisons in Belene and Pleven, in addition to carrying out preventive and VCT work among drug addicts, especially after the closing of the Methadone Prevention Center in Pleven. A visit for VCT for HIV/AIDS at the Lovech Prison is forthcoming. The activities are under BFPA’s project "I want to know" with the financial support of Viiv Healthcare.
- For December 1, the team of BFPA in Stara Zagora, namely Assoc. Prof. Boryana Simeonova, conducted an information campaign for HIV / AIDS prevention in the city together with the Local Commission for Combating Antisocial Behavior of Minors and the Youth Municipal Council. This turned out to be insufficient for the students from the Art High School and they requested a thematic information meeting.
HIV / AIDS prevention is 365 days a year, not only on December 1!
