Testing to mark World AIDS Day in Poltava continues

The Municipal Enterprise "Regional Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control of the Poltava Regional Council," the Department of Youth and Family Policy of the Department of Culture, Youth, and Family of the Poltava City Council, and the NGO "Svitlo Nadiyi" conducted an informational and educational campaign at the "Ekvator" shopping mall to mark World AIDS Memorial Day and the European HIV and Hepatitis Testing Week.

Visitors and staff of the center had the opportunity to undergo free anonymous HIV testing. A total of 44 people took advantage of this opportunity, and none of them tested positive for the infection.

"We aim for people to be conscious of their own health. HIV can often progress asymptomatically over a long period. Therefore, it's better to spend a few minutes on testing and find out the results in just 15 minutes rather than having to treat the disease in its later stages. In addition, our medical sister uses combined rapid tests that can detect HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Therefore, we urge people to care about their future and get tested," said Ivanna Danylyshyna, Head of the Projects and Programs Department of Public Health at the NGO "Svitlo Nadiyi."

Social workers and volunteers at the event provided information to people about possible ways of infection, HIV and hepatitis treatment, and emphasized the importance of regular testing. Additionally, they distributed free contraceptives, lubricants, and informational brochures to interested individuals.

The volunteer defense headquarters in Kremenchuk delivered another round of aid to the Poltava Regional Hospital named after M.V. Sklifosovsky. The aid included antibiotics, saline solutions, surgical instruments, disposable materials for surgeries, gloves, gowns, and 12 sets of neodymium magnets "Edelweiss." These magnets are used in medicine for removing small fragments and even bullets.