Today, the Institute of Public Health successfully conducted a training for HIV testing counselors together with the Centers for Public Health, the Ministry of Health, the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, representatives of the non-governmental sector, and other guests at the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Medicine at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

Opening remarks were given by the Director of the Institute of Public Health, Assoc.Dr. Marija Andonovska, and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Prof. Dr. Svetozar Antović, who emphasized the importance of HIV testing and counseling in order to improve our knowledge, skills, and practices.

HIV testing is one of the most important steps in the fight against this disease because testing:

·         Enables early detection of the disease

·         Early detection helps prevent transmission of the virus and further spread of the disease

·         Leads to the early initiation of appropriate therapeutic treatment

·         Saves lives and prolongs life expectancy

·         Early treatment enables a normal life

·         And last but not least, reduces uncertainty and stress among affected individuals

The training was facilitated by experts in the field, including:

Asst. Dr. Dragan Kochinski, on the epidemiological situation related to HIV, from the Institute of Public Health

Prof. Dr. Golubinka Boshevska, on the basics of HIV testing – global HIV programs (WHO and ECDC), HIV algorithms, and counseling skills, from the Institute of Public Health

Asst. Dr. Biljana Petreska, on HIV transmission and prevention – treatment, care, and support – pre-exposure and post-exposure HIV prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP), from the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions