An intensive week of screening for HIV infections and viral hepatitis begins Monday in mobile units and organizations across the country and in Europe, the Treatment Activists Group (GAT) announced Thursday.
“If Europe and Portugal want to comply with international strategies to eliminate HIV infection, viral hepatitis and other STIs [infeções sexualmente transmissíveis]as a serious public health problem. public and community institutions must remain united and active???????? And they must reach all potentially affected populations. We do this every day at GAT, but this week we will redouble our efforts,” says GAT executive director Ricardo Fernandes in a statement.
According to the GAT, this European week of HIV-Hepatitis tests runs from November 21 to 28 and screening can be carried out in mobile units and various civil society organizations????????
According to the organization, the tests will be free, fast and anonymous????????
“Testing is a key that can unlock the possibility of providing a complete package of prevention and care that responds to the broader needs of the population. This can also be done through testing for various diseases, counselling, harm reduction, treatment, PrEP [método de prevenção à infeção pelo HIV]behavioral interventions, among others”, clarifies Ricardo Fernandes.
GAT refers that this week has been organized by EuroTEST since 2013 and serves to disseminate essential information and “increase health literacy of the population of the European continent” so that “more people can know their serological status for these infections, as well as have timely access to the health care they need”, thus breaking the chain of transmission.
The group adds that “screening continues to be one of the main tools to achieve the goals set by the United Nations for 2035.”
Source: Observadora
