HIV infection is a chronic disease when the body cannot fight infections and other diseases. Often people already "carry" the disease, although they do not feel sick (there are no symptoms). However, a person is contagious and the disease will manifest itself anyway.
You may get infected:
- When using a non-sterile syringe, when using drugs;
- During sexual contact (vaginal or anal) without a condom, oral sex with a partner who has HIV (even with a single one).
HIV infection as a threat to public health should be completely eliminated by 2030 – such an ambitious goal was set within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals eight years ago at the 69th session of the World Health Assembly. The implementation of this goal will prevent millions of deaths due to AIDS, millions of new HIV infections, and ensure a healthy and fulfilling life for almost 40 million people currently living with HIV. Strategy of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 defines the main objectives for achieving this goal: 95% of people living with HIV should know their HIV status; 95% of people who know their HIV status will receive treatment; 95% of people receiving treatment will be effective, and these people will not they will transmit the infection to others. The elimination of HIV infection as a threat to public health does not negate the relevance of preventive interventions for new cases of HIV infection, and this means that today we can present December 1 as HIV prevention day.
World AIDS Day is marked by a call for action to protect everyone's health through the protection of their rights. The campaign's motto "The right to Health is the right way" reminds people that the right to health is not only access to high–quality medical services and medicines, but also everyone's right to prevention and treatment, the right to make decisions about their health, and the right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of diagnoses. Acceptance, respect, and caring for each person are extremely important. Laws and practices that punish, discriminate, or stigmatize people simultaneously hinder access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care. The same applies to laws that interfere with the activities of people who provide vital services to people living with HIV.
About 26,000 people with HIV-positive status live in the Republic of Belarus. The State guarantees the provision of HIV treatment to all people living with HIV, regardless of the stage of the disease and the level of immunity. In our country, a system has been created to ensure the safety of donated blood and its preparations, and the risk of providing medical care and performing non-medical manipulations in specialized institutions has been minimized. Voluntary testing, including anonymous testing, can be done at any healthcare facility with a treatment room. Rapid self-testing tests are freely available in pharmacies in all regions. Anonymous counseling centers operate on the basis of government health organizations and non-governmental non-profit organizations, providing, among other things, HIV counseling and testing services for key populations.
Where can I get an HIV test?
HIV testing can be anonymous.
Testing is voluntary: the patient's consent is required for testing.
Today, there is a treatment for HIV infection - antiretroviral therapy (ART), thanks to which this disease has moved from the category of fatal to the category of chronic. ART suppresses the reproduction of HIV, but does not remove it from the body. There are no ways to remove HIV from the body, but perhaps they will appear in the future.
HIV testing can be done anonymously and free of
charge at any polyclinic in Minsk.;
In the treatment room of the HIV Prevention Department/AIDS RCGEiOZ (Minsk, K. Tsetkin St., 4, 3rd floor).
HIV infection (ELISA method) (result within 2 working days);
syphilis (RPR test, ELISA method) (result within 2 working days);
hepatitis B and C (results from 2 to 5 working days)
Time of blood collection:
8.30-16.00 (Monday-Thursday)
8.30-13.00 (Friday)
Break 13.00-14.00
To clarify the schedule of the treatment room by phone 8(017)258-22-68.
HIV testing using rapid tests (rapid tests) is carried out for at-risk groups (injecting drug users; women involved in the sex business; men who have sexual contact with men) in counseling centers.
Information about rapid testing for injecting drug users can be found at 8 (029) 122-18-18.
