Detachable Subdivision
"Rivne Professional College of
National University of Life
and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine"
World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on December 1, in accordance with the decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the decision of the UN General Assembly, adopted in 1988. The goal is to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS.
HIV infection is a chronic disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus attacks the immune system, disrupts the body's defenses, and gradually makes it vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
Over the entire period of official observations, more than 40 million people have died from the immunodeficiency virus in the world. According to the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 899 deaths from AIDS were registered in the first 9 months of this year.
Epidemic situation of HIV infection in Ukraine. As of 01.10.2024, 147,599 people living with HIV were under medical supervision in healthcare institutions, which is 360.0 per 100,000 population. According to official registration data, the highest prevalence of HIV infection per 100,000 population was registered in Odessa (971.8), Dnipropetrovsk (938.8), Mykolaiv (747.4) regions and Kyiv (631.0). Compared to 9 months of 2023, the dispensary group in Ukraine decreased by 7.1 percent.
Dangerous statistics in the Rivne region. Since the beginning of 2024, an increase in the number of HIV patients has been recorded in the Rivne region. According to statistics, this year specialists examined more than 52.5 thousand people and 98 people were confirmed to have HIV infection for the first time. This is 10 cases more than in the same period last year. The ratio of women to men among the infected is approximately 1 to 2.5. Doctors are particularly concerned about the spread of infection among young people aged 10-29, which indicates recent infection. In 8 months of this year, 15 cases were recorded in this age group, compared to 16 cases in 2023. In 89%, the route of transmission of the infection is sexual, the rest are mostly associated with the injection method, and all such cases are associated with drug addicts.
Testing is the most effective way to learn about your health status. HIV testing in Ukraine is voluntary, free, confidential, and anonymous. Don't put off your visit to a medical facility. Regular HIV testing (twice a year) will protect the health of you and your loved ones!
In the college's library and information center, we offer BIC users a thematic literature review "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Sustainability and Impact."
Svitlana ANDRIYCHUK,
Lead Librarian of the BIC
