Youth - most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
Monday, December 3rd at 12:00 o'clock at the Round Conference Room of the Intercontinental Hotel from Bucharest was re launched the National Campaign Against AIDS under the slogan "Open your heart, learn to love!"
Even though the number of new HIV cases registered in Romania is in a slow decrease, the majority of these cases are among youngsters aged between 15 and 24 and are determined by risk sexual behaviors.
The new infected youngsters are being added to the big group of over 7000 living HIV positive youngsters that most probably had been infected in the medical system during 1986 - 1991.
The campaign's initiators: The Public Health Ministry through the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Prof. Dr. Matei Bals, The HIV/AIDS Romanian Centre, the organizations fro affected and infected people, organizations of the civil society and the UN agencies that want to refocus the spotlight on HIV prevention issue and information access, education and prevention means in an environment without prejudices.
Prevention is the key to maintain Romania to a decreased HIV/AIDS decreased level and to avoid an outburst of the disease.
A very important group of the top musicians joined the campaign and they wanted to send their message by a song specific for the campaign: "Follow your heart" whose video was presented within the press conference.
The participants were: Public Health Ministry, representatives of the infected and affected people (UNOPA), the organizations active in this field, the UN agencies and the artists who joined the campaign.
The participants gathered immediately after the press conference in the lawn of the National Theatre, in the traditional, by now, human ribbon symbolizing the solidarity with the AIDS victims.
At the end, those who "drawn" the human ribbon, set free red balloons that flew to the sky carrying the message of solidarity with our people living with HIV/AIDS (photo).
The event that took place in Bucharest will be followed by other such events in other 20 locations throughout the country. Further details are available on www.deschidetiinima.ro.
