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Address of the Minister of Health Mrs Constantina Akkelidou at the press conference with occasion of World AIDS Day and the launching of the
new five-year strategic plan for AIDS
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Address of the Minister of Health Mrs Constantina Akkelidou at the press conference with occasion of World AIDS Day and the launching of the
new five-year strategic plan for AIDS
Friday 12 December 2003
Amphitheatre of the Public Information Office
Lefkosia I welcome you to the press conference given with occasion of the World AIDS Day, which this year is dedicated to the fight against stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV and AIDS. The message of World AIDS Day is: “Live and let Live”.
The two-year campaign of 2002 and 2003 is based on the recognition of the fact that prejudice, discrimination and stigma have to be addressed as basic factors which prevent the application of effective measures against the AIDS epidemic and not only as a human rights issue. Fear, shame and loss of self-esteem deprive the affected individual of the will and the strength to openly demand his or her human rights, as an equal member of society. Isolation and marginalization prevent their active involvement in the measures implemented by all stakeholders, whether governmental or non governmental, for the prevention of the spread of the epidemic.
The untold tragedy of Humanity Worldwide is reflected in the following:
More than 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS,
22 million people are believed to have died of AIDS,
15 million children were orphaned because of AIDS
Millions of children have become or risk becoming infected with the virus due to the adverse conditions under which they live,
Ten new cases are occurring each minute that passes,
Many counties, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, witness the daily ravages of the virus on their lives,
We are all living in the uncertainty caused by the pandemic regarding the future of next generations.
By international standards, the epidemic in Cyprus is still limited, but is there to remind us that we have a duty to fight to preserve the low prevalence levels of HIV-infection and to remove all risk factors for the transmission of the virus.
Of the 414 HIV-infected people who were diagnosed in Cyprus since 1986, about 130 are being followed up by our services. About 60 people have died and many have left Cyprus, either because they were foreigners tested for the purpose of a working permit, or because they were Cypriots who are permanent residents abroad. According to criteria of the World Health Organization, it is estimated that the number of people with HIV-infection among the adult population in Cyprus is not more than 500, and the rate is 0,1%.
The findings of the epidemiological surveillance are supplemented by data from behavioural studies in various population groups, used to evaluate the risk factors for public health, with regard to the virus. The situation is also evaluated through information received from relevant Ministries, services and non governmental organizations.
All data have been inputted in the preparation of the new five-year strategic plan against AIDS, which we are pleased to launch today. The 8 strategic areas for the next five years rely on the basic principles for (a) prevention of the transmission of the virus, (b) reduction of personal and social impact of HIV-infection and (c) reinforcement of the capacity of the Ministry of Health services to mount an effective campaign against the epidemic, through a broad, multisectoral cooperation will all stakeholders.
The 8 strategic areas are shown below:
1. Prevention of the sexual transmission of the virus. The main thrust is placed on the reinforcement of existing peer education programmes in lyceums and in various youth groups. Information is also provided through other routes, such as special programmes, lectures, campaigns, messages and discussions through the Media, since a large section of the population may not be accessed through peer education programmes. The messages for the prevention of sexual transmission will rely on the promotion of delayed commencement of sexual contacts, mainly for young people, mutual faithfulness and correct condom use.
2. Harm reduction from drug use. This strategy will be promoted by the National AIDS Programme in close cooperation with the Anti Drugs Council, for the limitation of the risk of transmission of the virus and of other diseases through sharing of injecting equipment and other modes.
3. Prevention of perinatal transmission. The strategy aiming to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child will rely on (a) the reinforcement of programmes for maintaining a low rate of HIV-infection in the general population, (b) provision of counselling to couples wishing to conceive and of free testing to all pregnant women and (c) provision to all seropositive pregnant women of the choice to either interrupt their pregnancy, or to continue their pregnancy and to be offered free antiretroviral treatment, delivery by cesarean section and counselling regarding the avoidance of breastfeeding.
4. Prevention of transmission through blood and blood products. The prevention of hematogenous transmission of HIV will rely on (a) voluntary blood donation, (b) general testing of all blood units, (c) donor selection, (d) rational use of blood in the clinical setting and (e) application of measures for the reduction of residual risk to the lowest possible level.
5. Provision of care to affected individuals. This will consist of (a) free counselling and laboratory testing to all people, including those with HIV-infection and their families, (b) free medical care with antiretroviral and other drugs, (c) free nursing care and (d) laboratory testing for diagnosis and follow-up for HIV-infected people. In addition, centres for the chronically ill AIDS patients who may not provide for themselves will be promoted. Community nurses will be trained so that nursing care may be developed for AIDS patients in the community. Our cooperation with the European SPREAD Programme for the study and prevention of resistance of the virus to antiretroviral drugs will be promoted, through the cooperation with the University of Cyprus.
6. Reduction of the personal and social impact of HIV-infection. Strategies will rely (a) on the constant provision of information to the public with regard to discrimination and stigma, (b) the carrying out of studies on the socio-economic impact of HIV-infection and (c) the implementation of a feasibility study for the creation of a club for seropositive people. People with HIV-infection are recruited in programmes for the information and sensitization of the public.
7. Protection of human rights of. In this area. various initiatives will be undertaken, aiming to protect the individual and society, such as (a) programmes addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, i.e. men who have sex with men, drug users, foreign workers and bar girls, minorities etc, and (b) preparation of a new legislation that will take into consideration the rights and responsibilities of both the community and the people with HIV/AIDS and the members of vulnerable populations.
8. Reinforcement of the function and structure of the National AIDS Programme. The reinforcement of the National AIDS Programme will facilitate the implementation of the strategic plan, which is the product of multisectoral collaboration and is accepted by all stakeholders from the governmental and the social sectors. The epidemiological surveillance will continue to be done under the guidance of the World Health Organization and will be upgraded so as to better comply with current needs and demands of the European Union. The area of research and studies will be upgraded and will include projects at all levels of care and prevention of HIV-infection. Prevention programmes and continuous education of the personnel and volunteer groups will be reinforced through the creation of a health promotion unit for AIDS at the Ministry of Health. A multisectoral strategy will be developed, for the implementation of programmes at all levels of care and prevention. The reestablishment of the National AIDS Committee with a new, more functional and effective structure, will facilitate decision making and practical implementation of strategies.
The strategic plan will be implemented through the multisectoral collaboration of all local stakeholders and international agencies. The cooperation with Turkish Cypriot civil society groups is promoted, for better understanding of the HIV situation in the occupied area and the development of joint programmes to address the epidemic. We are supported in our efforts by international organizations based in Cyprus, such us UNFICYP, UNHCR and UNOPS.
According to provisional estimations, the time schedule of activities for the next five years will cost £667.000. The yearly cost for the provision of medical care, which is estimated at over £600.000, is not included in this figure, since it is covered by the regular budget. Also, a number of activities which are still being priced have not included.
The year 2004 will mark the beginning of a new phase for all of us in the fight against AIDS in Cyprus. I warmly thank all our collaborators who have participated in the preparation of the strategic plan and invite you all to further cooperation for the implementation of the activities included in the strategic plan.
Let us all work together in order to rid Cyprus from prejudice and from AIDS.
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