Every year, at the initiative of the World Health Organization, December 1 is World AIDS Day. It was launched in 1988 to raise awareness about HIV / AIDS and to draw public attention to violations of the rights and freedoms of people living with HIV.

Ukraine's strategy to combat the HIV / AIDS epidemic and prevention is reflected in regulations, including the Laws of Ukraine "On Prevention of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Social Protection", "On Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases", Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, instructions of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, a number of state social programs, etc.

People living with HIV / AIDS are one of the most vulnerable categories of citizens. They are discriminated against in the areas of labor, health, education, and access to social services. At the same time, stigma and discrimination related to HIV / AIDS have a serious psychological impact on the self-consciousness of HIV-positive people, lower human self-esteem and lead to severe emotional and psychological consequences.

In accordance with modern principles of combating the spread of HIV, areas of prevention, care and support are being developed, which include educational activities, ensuring equal access to medical and social services among populations at increased risk of HIV infection, people living with HIV and their families, etc. An important factor in the success of such work remains the use of all existing opportunities for cooperation between public authorities and institutions with public, trade unions, employers' organizations, scientific and educational institutions to disseminate information about HIV / AIDS among citizens.

As long as there is no vaccine or treatment option, the main tasks of prevention work are:

• dissemination of information;
• protection of yourself and others;
• development of behavioral skills.

From 2010 to 2020, the number of new cases of HIV infection among children decreased by more than half (54%) due to the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy in pregnant HIV-positive women and HIV-positive women who are breastfeeding. However, this pace has slowed significantly in recent years, leaving particularly large gaps in West and Central Africa, regions that account for more than half of pregnant women living with HIV and not receiving treatment, UNAIDS experts say.

Due to the lack of testing of infants and children at risk of HIV infection, more than two-fifths of children living with HIV were left undiagnosed. The number of children in treatment worldwide has decreased since 2019, and in 2020 about 800,000 children (aged 0 to 14) did not receive antiretroviral therapy. Only 40% of children living with HIV have a depressed viral load, while for adults this figure is 67%. Approximately two-thirds of children who do not receive treatment are between the ages of 5 and 14 - that is, they cannot be tested for HIV during postpartum care visits. The main priorities for the next five years are to expand human rights index testing, to organize family and household testing, and to optimize pediatric treatment to diagnose such children, refer them for treatment, and ensure that they adhere to a long-term treatment regimen.

Congratulations on Thanksgiving! On this warm day, not because of the weather, but because of mood we want to express gratitude for everything in our life. We wish all of you to accept every day and every moment with grateful. May this day bring many pleasant moments and smiles of relatives, family comfort, happiness and kindness, friendly meetings, fun and joy. May everyone be grateful for what they have, may it be valued and cherished.

There is growing evidence that people living with HIV are more likely to need to be hospitalized when infected with SARS-CoV-2, and that they are more likely to have an adverse clinical outcome, according to UNDP in Ukraine.

Analysis of data from the United States shows that people living with HIV are more likely to be hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection and are more severe than HIV-negative patients. Studies in England and South Africa have shown that the risk of death from COVID-19 among people living with HIV is twice as high. An adverse effect of COVID-19 in HIV patients with HIV development and / or chronic comorbidities, common in people living with HIV, has been identified.

However, the principles of availability of vaccination against COVID-19 around the world remain uneven and unfair. At the beginning of October 2021, the availability of vaccines in low-income and below-average countries remains low. And these are the countries where more than half (55%) of all HIV-infected people in the world live.