December 2, 2005

To combat the discrimination faced by those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, Romania's Health Minister launched a new six month campaign called "Open Your Heart" on December 2. The campaign is part of World AIDS Day, observed worldwide in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to AIDS and in support of those living with the disease.

The six-month campaign was launched this morning at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Bucharest. U.S. Embassy Charge D’Affaires Mark Taplin joined Ioan Buraga, General Director of Medical Care, Ministry of Health, and Dorinel Motoc, Advisor to the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in saluting the courage of people living with AIDS and in encouraging Romanians of all age groups to become informed about HIV.

“We all know how devastating AIDS is, both for those who have the disease and for those who love them,” Mr. Taplin said. “Discriminatory attitudes and actions by people who don’t understand often make an already difficult situation even harder.”

According to Ministry of Health data, as of June 30, 2005, there were 10,995 people living with AIDS in Romania. The majority of the country’s HIV-positive are children and adolescents.

While all people should know how to protect themselves and their loved ones against HIV infection, it is equally important to know how the virus is not spread. HIV can be contracted only when bodily fluids are exchanged, for example, through unprotected sex, shared needles (for drugs or tattoos), or during birth or nursing when the mother is HIV-positive. It cannot be spread through handshakes, hugs, or insect bites. It cannot be contracted by using the same silverware as someone infected with HIV, or by swimming in the same pool. It cannot be spread by attending school with an HIV-positive child or by working with an HIV-positive adult.

Mr. Taplin reaffirmed that the United States Government remains committed to working with its partners, including the Ministry of Health, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organization, and others, to do everything possible to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to show respect and love to those who are HIV-positive. He also saluted the involvement of the Romanian Orthodox Church, saying, “The Church has taken a courageous and noteworthy stance in the parallel fights against HIV infection and discrimination against those affected by AIDS.”

During the six months of the campaign, the popular musical group Vita de Vie will tour with the children’s group Glasul Inimii, performing a series of concerts designed to raise awareness among Romanian youth. There will also be a photography contest for persons living with AIDS, a TV spot featuring testimonials by those affected by HIV, local-level press events, distribution of educational materials, and many other activities throughout the country.

For more information about the campaign, please contact:
Dr. Alina Panait, USAID/Romania Tel. 316 12 22 ext 149

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2 Decembrie 2005

Ministerul Sanatatii din Romania a lansat astazi o noua campanie intitulata “Deschide-ti inima”, cu durata de sase luni, pentru a lupta impotriva discriminarii bolnavilor de SIDA sau celor infestati cu virusul HIV. Campania se incadreaza in manifestarile dedicate Zilei Internationale de Lupta Anti-SIDA, marcata in toata lumea in memoria celor care si-au pierdut viata din aceasta cauza si in semn de sprijin pentru cei care trebuie sa traiasca cu aceasta boala.

Campania a fost lansata in aceasta dimineata, in cadrul unei conferinte de presa organizata la Hotelul Hilton din Bucuresti. Insarcinatul cu Afaceri al Ambasadei SUA la Bucuresti, Mark Taplin, alaturi de Ioan Buraga, Director General al Directiei Generale de Asistenta Medicala, Structuri Sanitare si Salarizare din cadrul Ministerului Sanatatii, si Dorinel Motoc din partea Bisericii Ortodoxe Romane, au salutat curajul oamenilor afectati de SIDA si au incurajat toate grupurile de varsta sa se informeze despre HIV.

“Cunoastem cu totii efectele devastatoare ale SIDA, atat pentru cei care sufera de aceasta boala, cat si pentru cei dragi lor”, a declarat Mark Taplin, “Atitudinile si actiunile discriminatorii ale oamenilor care nu inteleg contribuie, adeseori, la inrautatirea unei situatii deja dificile.”

Potrivit datelor furnizate de Ministerul Sanatatii, la 30 iunie 2005, numarul romanilor care sufereau de SIDA era de 10.995. Majoritatea celor depistati cu HIV sunt copii si adolescenti.

Oamenii trebuie sa stie cum sa se protejeze si cum sa-i protejeze pe ceilalti impotriva infestarii cu virusul HIV, dar este la fel de important ca acestia sa cunoasca modalitatile prin care acest virus nu se poate transmite. Virusul HIV poate fi contractat numai in urma schimbului de lichide ale corpului (de exemplu, prin contactul sexual neprotejat, prin ace folosite in comun – pentru droguri sau tatuaje – sau in timpul nasterii sau alaptarii, cand mama este depistata pozitiv). Virusul nu se raspandeste prin stransul mainii, imbratisari sau intepaturi de insecte, si nici prin folosirea acelorasi tacamuri cu o persoana infestata cu HIV sau prin inotul in aceeasi piscina. De asemenea, virusul nu se raspandeste prin frecventarea aceleiasi scoli cu un copil depistat pozitiv sau lucrand alaturi de un adult infestat cu acest virus.

Mark Taplin a reafirmat angajamentul Guvernului Statelor Unite de a lucra impreuna cu partenerii sai, inclusiv Ministerul Sanatatii, Fondul Global de lupta impotriva SIDA, tubeculozei si malariei, Programul ONU pentru HIV/SIDA, Organizatia Mondiala a Sanatatii si alte organizatii, pentru a face tot ceea ce este posibil pentru a preveni raspandirea HIV/SIDA si pentru a demonstra respectul si dragostea fata de cei afectati. De asemenea, Taplin a salutat implicarea Bisericii Ortodoxe Romane, declarand ca “Biserica a adoptat o pozitie curajoasa, demna de remarcat, in luptele paralele impotriva infestarii cu virusul HIV si a discriminarii impotriva celor afectati de SIDA.”

Pe parcursul celor sase luni de campanie, binecunoscuta trupa Vita de Vie va intreprinde un turneu impreuna cu grupul de copii Glasul Inimii, realizand o serie de concerte pentru a atrage atentia tineretului din Romania. In acelasi timp, va fi organizat un concurs de fotografie pentru persoanele care sufera de SIDA; de asemenea, se vor realiza un clip TV cu marturii ale celor infestati cu HIV si evenimente de presa la nivel local si vor fi distribuite materiale educationale. Alte activitati de acest gen vor avea loc in toata tara.

Pentru informatii suplimentare, persoana de contact este:
Dr. Alina Panait - USAID/Romania - Tel. 316 12 22 / int 149

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