Annual All-Russian campaign "HIV Test: Expedition 2020" has ended in Kazan
The annual All-Russian campaign "HIV Test: Expedition 2020" has ended in the capital of Tatarstan. Laboratory bus, which hosted the anonymous campaign, toured the 45 regions of the country.
"Today we are closing the traditional campaign. Thanks to the campaign, about 25 thousand people found out their HIV status. Today, it is just as necessary to know your HIV status as to undergo a medical examination and regularly consult a doctor. This is an inherent element of culture in relation to your health," said Oleg Salagai, Deputy Minister of Healthcare of Russia.
According to the Deputy Minister, the campaign included not only testing. Events were held for physicians, where about 6 thousand doctors enhanced their skills on HIV infection. Parent-teacher meetings were held in schools, which were attended by more than 5 thousand people. Online events were also held.
This year, 45 regions took part in the campaign. Two mobile laboratories started their tour from Kamchatka and Kaliningrad. They started the route on June 26, and the laboratory bus visited 216 localities. Tatarstan became their convergent point and the place where the campaign ended.
"In Tatarstan, 30% of the population is tested annually. At the same time, up to 50 events are organized in the Republic, where up to 8 thousand rapid tests are conducted. Our work with NPO is a huge help. Today on a regular basis work 9 low-threshold centres where on a permanent basis medical personnel provides rapid testing," — said the chief physician of State Autonomous Healthcare Institution "Republican Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Tatarstan" Niyaz Galiullin.
In the republic, testing was conducted in Almetyevsk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Zelenodolsk, Nizhnekamsk and Kazan.
At the closing ceremony, Niyaz Galiullin handed the flag of the Republic of Tatarstan to the consultant of the project "HIV Test: Expedition 2020 " Andrey Amirov.
"I would like to say heartfelt words of gratitude to the hospitable Tatarstan for the opportunity to finish the campaign at such a high level. Of course, this campaign would not have taken place without the support of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Tatarstan. We express our deepest gratitude to them ", Andrey Amirov said.
The All-Russian campaign for free anonymous rapid HIV testing was conducted by the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation under the State Strategy for Countering the Spread of HIV Infection in Russia.
Based on the materials of the Tatar-inform News Agency.