Events

MINSK, 26 May (BelTA) - United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Michel Kazatchkine is in Belarus on an official visit on 26-28 May, BelTA learned from the public information department of the UN Office in Belarus.

During the visit, Michel Kazatchkine intends to hold meetings and consultations with a wide range of stakeholders: the government, the Parliament, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and the Interior, international and non-governmental organizations working in the field of HIV prevention to discuss the national efforts to combat the HIV and TB, to consider the difficulties and possible solutions. The UN Special Envoy will visit the point of opioid substitution therapy program in one of the hospitals in Minsk.

Currently there are more than 1.1 million HIV-positive in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Every year, this figure increases by about 110,000 people. Today women account for over 40% of new HIV infection cases. As of 1 April this year, the total number of registered HIV infection cases in Belarus was 18,000. There are 14,000 people with HIV-positive status in Belarus.

Michel Kazatchkine was appointed United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in July 2012. In this capacity, he focuses on providing support at a high political level to national and regional measures to combat the HIV epidemic and advocates for improving access to prevention, treatment, care and support for the most needy groups.

Michel Kazatchkine’s visit to Belarus has been prepared in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, the Office of the UN resident coordinator in Belarus, and with the support of the UNDP and UNAIDS national and regional teams.