FUTURE OF HIV/AIDS PREVENTION IN MACEDONIA BEYOND THE GLOBAL FUND
FUTURE OF HIV/AIDS PREVENTION IN MACEDONIA BEYOND THE GLOBAL FUND

Summary/Abstract: HIV/AIDS is one of the major public health concerns in the world, 35million people were living with HIV in 2013, vast majority of them in lowand middle income countries. HIV has an increasing trend in Macedonia,in 2014, 42 new cases were diagnosed with HIV, highest number to date.As in previous period late diagnosis of HIV remains concern, 40% of casesin 2014 had developed AIDS. Currently all HIV patients that fulfill Nationalcriteria, are on antiretroviral treatment. Funds for antiretroviral therapyare secured through National Annual Program for Protection of the Populationfrom HIV/AIDS. Majority of HIV prevention and harm reduction activitiesincluding voluntary HIV testing and cancelling among populationat risk of HIV are financed through funds secured by Global Fund to FightAIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.Currently Macedonia is implementing last round of Global Fund HIVproject that ends in 2016, as upper-middle income country Macedonia willbe no longer eligible to apply for new Grants.If policy of financing HIV programs remains unchanged beyond GlobalFund, funding of ARV therapy and HIV preventive activities amongmost at risk population as two pillars of HIV prevention will be seriouslythreatened. As consequence, Macedonia will be exposed to higher risk ofspread of HIV infection among population at risk but other population aswell. Timely invest in prevention is best strategy to tackle HIV problem

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