World AIDS Day is December 1 and Association ‘Lizuca,’ in partnership with the Romanian Angel Appeal, Association ‘Lumina,’ Romanian Anti-AIDS Association, the Public Health Association, and ‘Floarea Soarelui,’ held a campaign on November 30 dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS.  The first even held was a ‘roundtable’ discussion on the theme of ‘universal access as a human right.’  The discussion took place at the Public Health Association.  Speakers presented data about people living with HIV/AIDS, information about the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS, and information about free HIV/AIDS testing and treatment costs.  In Romania, there are a documented 8,857 people living with HIV/AIDS, 264 of whom are under the age of 14.  The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Bacau County is 339 (4 of whom are children); 25 of these cases were diagnosed in 2009.  In the past 11 months, 11 people with AIDS have died. This year, doctors have diagnosed 28 pregnant women as being seropositive; 24 of these women gave birth and none of the newborns were found to be seropositive.   The average cost of treatment for a person with HIV/AIDS is 2,164 Romanian lei (or about 530 Euros) per month.  The most expensive form of treatment costs about 15,000 Romanian lei (3,670 Euros) per month.  Antiviral drugs can cost up to 600,000 Romanian lei (146,600 Euros) per month.

After the ‘roundtable’ discussion, a memorial was held for victims of HIV/AIDS at noon in front of the mayor’s office in Bacau. In memory of the victims, volunteers from Association ‘Lizuca’ and other non-governmental organizations formed a human ribbon, released red balloons, and lit candles.

"In this way, we want to commemorate victims of AIDS and highlight the problems young people with HIV face," said Ana Vatavu, president of the ‘Lizuca’ Association. “To wear a red ribbon means you care for people with HIV," she added. Volunteers dressed in red to catch the attention of Bacau citizens and to inform them that you must not stay indifferent to the suffering of others. "I have worked with people with HIV/AIDS since 1999 and have noticed that discrimination has diminished greatly over the last 10 years,” said Mihaela Dumitrache of Association ‘Lumina.’.  Stefan Ferent of the Romanian Anti-AIDS Association added, “AIDS is a chronic condition now, much like hepatitis. However, it is not as similar in terms of how workers are treated. With the exception of medical treatment, state involvement is limited.”