Brussels, 14/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 14 March, the European Commission renewed its action plan to fight AIDS in the EU and its neighbouring countries.
This plan covers prevention, voluntary testing, and early treatment in the event of infection, and it aims to fight discrimination related to the disease. It also targets high-risk and vulnerable sections of the population such as homosexuals, the prison population, sex workers and migrants.
“We need to address the worrying increase of HIV/AIDS in some parts of the EU. To do this, we must reach out to the citizens who are most at risk, fight all forms of discrimination, and foster access to diagnosis and treatment”, said European Commissioner for Health Tonio Borg.
Contrary to the global trend, the number of newly reported cases in Europe is growing. In 2012, there will more than 131,000 new infections in Europe and Central Asia, 29,000 of which were in the EU and the European Economic Area, representing a 1% increase compared to 2011. (MB)