HIV is neglected in southeastern Europe
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 09, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL -Not enough interest and concern is being given to HIV in southeastern Europe, according to the director of The HIV Training and Resource Initiative, or HIVTRI. The disappointing turnout of three reporters from the Turkish media to the initiative’s press conference yesterday confirmed this.
Speaking at the Point Hotel in Taksim yesterday, Mike Youle outlined the key aims of the initiative saying the organisation was calling out to doctors, nurses, patient advocates, government officials and nongovernmetal organizations to come together and share experiences to find a solution to raising awareness and interest of HIV cases in the Southeast. "The region that is comprised of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey is ultimately a low-priority region because there are fewer cases, however, this should not result in low-priority treatment, organisational interest and overall support," Youle said.
In order to raise awareness of this issue, HIVTRI organized a regional HIV meeting in Istanbul from May 6 to 8. The main objective of the meeting was to bring together key stakeholders in the region to interact with HIV veterans from across the world, and provide an opportunity for industry representatives to learn first hand about conditions in southeast Europe from the experts.
As opposed to just lecturing people about the issue, the initiative conducted four small group forums where people worked together to gain information and share possible solutions to the significant obstacles of access and quality of HIV treatment, diagnostics and care within the region. The first forum addressed the issue of drugs and diagnostics. The second was about research and information, the third about stigma and the fourth about patient empowerment. The initiative believes that patients can do a lot for their own health; therefore, organisations need to release information and guide them through such self-help methods.
Treatment monitoring
In addition, the various forums discussed ways in which to improve the system of monitoring treatment. Data is consistently released about the cases diagnosed; however, many countries in this region do not monitor the type of treatment levels and care provided for patients. Moreover, the lack of monitoring also leads to late diagnosis in the majority of these countries.
The population of the southeastern European region is 150 million, with Turkey making up half of this population. Some 130 representatives attended the annual regional HIV meeting, however, the number from large organisations such as the World Health Organization and the Global Fund were absent and as a result the initiative calls upon large organisations of this type to show interest in the region for the future.
In order to raise awareness of this issue, HIVTRI organized a regional HIV meeting in Istanbul from May 6 to 8. The main objective of the meeting was to bring together key stakeholders in the region to interact with HIV veterans from across the world, and provide an opportunity for industry representatives to learn first hand about conditions in southeast Europe from the experts.
As opposed to just lecturing people about the issue, the initiative conducted four small group forums where people worked together to gain information and share possible solutions to the significant obstacles of access and quality of HIV treatment, diagnostics and care within the region. The first forum addressed the issue of drugs and diagnostics. The second was about research and information, the third about stigma and the fourth about patient empowerment. The initiative believes that patients can do a lot for their own health; therefore, organisations need to release information and guide them through such self-help methods.
Treatment monitoring
In addition, the various forums discussed ways in which to improve the system of monitoring treatment. Data is consistently released about the cases diagnosed; however, many countries in this region do not monitor the type of treatment levels and care provided for patients. Moreover, the lack of monitoring also leads to late diagnosis in the majority of these countries.
The population of the southeastern European region is 150 million, with Turkey making up half of this population. Some 130 representatives attended the annual regional HIV meeting, however, the number from large organisations such as the World Health Organization and the Global Fund were absent and as a result the initiative calls upon large organisations of this type to show interest in the region for the future.