People can get tested for HIV, hepatitis for free in Prague during European HIV Testing Week

Prague, Nov 25 (CTK) – People can be anonymously tested for HIV and hepatitis in mobile testing stations for free in Prague today within the European HIV Testing Week, the organisers have said.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech (for ANO) and AIDS Help Czech organisation chairman Robert Hejzak will take part in the testing.

The Czech Republic is the fifth country with the highest rise in the number of new HIV cases. It increased by 128 percent in eight years, since 2010, the Politico portal has written.

A steeper rise in the HIV incidence was monitored in the Philippines, Egypt, Madagascar and Montenegro, while the neighbouring Slovakia was placed sixth in this respect.

The number of registered HIV-positive people reached 3,549 as of the end of September. Out of them, 1,729 lived in the capital of Prague.

Since 1986, when HIV/AIDS incidence started being monitored in the Czech Republic, AIDS has developed in 663 HIV-positive patients in the country, and 308 have died of it.

HIV infection is most often transferred in homosexual intercourse, followed by heterosexual intercourse. Another way of transmitting HIV is intravenous drug application.

Experts from the non-profit organisations dealing with drug addicts in Czechia criticise the planned cuts in the funding of drug addiction treatment and prevention.

Next year, the finances earmarked from the state budget for the care of drug addicts are to decrease by 35 million crowns compared to this year, according to the organisations’ data. Consequently, there will be less money for outpatient treatment, drug prevention campaigns as well as the syringe exchange programme.