STEPS AGAINST HIV/AIDS CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT IN ARMENIA
NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The HIV/AIDS problems are urgent in
Armenia, but the steps to deal with them are insufficient. Chairwoman
of Armenian Network of HIV-Positive People NGO Anahit Harutyunian
expressed this opinion at the November 30 press conference. Besides,
according to her, it is necessary to overcome society’s fear of
HIV-positive people and enable them to integrate into the society. She
said that we should speak about HIV/AIDS problems not only on December
1 – World AIDS Day – and on its eve, but constantly. A. Harutyunian
announced that there are currently 808 people living with HIV in
Armenia.
Head of Real World, Real People NGO Hovhannes Madoyan spoke about
the availability of money in Armenia for treatment of HIV-positive
persons and for preventive measures, adding that the problem is to
ensure general access to AIDS prevention, treatment and care, which
is the "major cornerstone" of figthing AIDS. "Only under conditions
of general access it would be possible to provide people with drugs
of vital importance, save human lives and fight the spread of the
epidemic," he stated.