Conference "HIV/AIDS-Where to?", organized by Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation and UNICEF Romania
Between the 7th and the 9th of June 2010, the Conference "HIV/AIDS - where to?" was organised in Bucharest by Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) in partnership with UNICEF Romania.
The event was attended by officials of the UN office in Romania, representatives of the Ministry of Health, central and local authorities, non-governmental organisations active in the field and associations of people affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Conference was hosted by the European HIV/AIDS and Infectious Diseases Academy within the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Bals" and focused on a subject of major concern for the medical world and for the community, due to its impact and special social implications: HIV/AIDS infection and the evolution of the HIV infection in Romania.
Prof. Dr. Adrian Streinu-Cercel, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Maria Kirova - Portfolio Manager of the Global Fund, Mr. Edmond McLoughney, representative of UNICEF Romania, Mr. Paul Nary, Programme Specialist within the UNICEF Regional Office, dr. Silvia Asandi, General Manager of Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, Mr. Iulian Petre, Executive Director of UNOPA and Prof. Marian Preda, PhD - University of Bucharest, School of Sociology and Social Assistance were present at the press conference that opened the event.
During the press conference and the working sessions that followed, a number of relevant issues were approached: situation of the HIV/AIDS infection and the people affected in Romania, susteinability of interventions for prevention and support provided to the people affected, the situation of young people as vulnerable group exposed to higher infecting risk, public-private partnership.
In addition, presentations and interventions were made related to the programs and activities for prevention and support developed so far and the results achieved in implementation, as well as challenges and opportunities that institutions and organisations active in the field will meet in the future.
It was also underlined once more the decisive contribution of prevention and control programs financed by the Global Fund which focused on keeping the HIV infection incidence low and on avoiding a second wave of the epidemic in Romania through providing an adequate combination of services and support for young people living with HIV/AIDS.
In both plenary and work sessions, the participants underlined the need to continue and strenghten the prevention activities, especially those focused on voulnerable groups, with high infecting risk. Support and development of programs for social and professional integration of young people living with HIV/AIDS is another intervention that needs to continue. This can be achieved through financing from national sourses and by integrating them into the public health system.
The conclusions of the conference and the reccomendations that came from the participants will contribute in a significant measure to elaborating the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, programmatic document of reference for all involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
