ABOUT THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE EUROPEAN HIV TESTING WEEK NOVEMBER 22-29, 2013
On Friday, Nov 22, at the BTA Pressclub a press-conference was held to announce the beginning of the “& I know…. my HIV status”, which is held during the European HIV testing week – Nov 22-29, 2013.
The initiative is organized by the National Patient’s Organization, Rotaract Club Sofia – Tangra, “Hope Against AIDS” Foundation, the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association and “Health without Borders” Association.
Attending the press-conference were:
- Dr. Stanimir Hasurdjiev – chairman of the National Patient’s Organization
- Vladimir Ventzislavov – president of Rotaract Club Sofia – Tangra
- Milen Chavrov – chairman of “Hope Against AIDS” Foundation
- Ventzislav Kirkov – program manager at the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association
The organizers presented the planned activities, part of which were:
- A survey among students
Rotaract club, with the help of its youth structures, will conduct a survey among pupils to ascertain the adolescents’ level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS. The survey will be held until the end of 2013 and the results will be announced at the beginning of 2014.
- A series of events at clubs in Sofia
Trained promoters will be handing out condoms and informational materials on how people can protect themselves from infection with AIDS, where they can receive free and anonymous tests and counseling. The events will be held on November 22,23 and 29th, 2013.
- Online and telephone counseling
In specially created profiles in the popular Bulgarian dating sites, everyone who wishes, can receive information and counseling on HIV/AIDS and other STIs. On the NGO’s patient telephone line everyone who wants can ask questions, concerning the sexually transmitted diseases, while medical consultants will encourage people to protect and test themselves.
- Free and anonymous consulting and HIV testing
Everyone who wishes, will be referred for free and anonymous consultation and testing to the “Health Without Frontiers” Association’s Sexual Health Centre on 111, “Tzar Samuil” str. Consultations will be conducted every day from 9.00 until 17.00.
- Pilot screening campaign for free and anonymous consulting and HIV testing in two small communities
The campaign will take place on Nov 29th. It is conducted due to the fact that in smaller communities there is no access to VCT(Voluntary Counseling and Testing).
About the campaign
After the successful initiation of the HIV Testing Week around the World AIDS Day – Dec 1st, in the UK in 2012, a multitude of NGOs in Europe, engaged with prevention of HIV/AIDS, agreed that organizing a similar week at a European level would be an effective way to encourage HIV testing and improving the access to free and anonymous examinations in Europe.
The European HIV Testing Week is managed by HIV in Europe - a pan-European platform, founded in Brussels in 2007 with the aim of exchange of ideas and joint activities aimed at improving the early diagnostics and treatment of HIV in Europe. It is lead by an independent group of experts, public health specialists, representatives of the civil society, government institutions and European public health organs.
In 2013 the initiative will be conducted all across Europe and nearly 400 partner organizations will implement different activities for increasing people’s awareness towards HIV/AIDS and encouragement of screening activities.
