District conference on combating HIV infection was held in Nizhny Novgorod

On April 24, a scientific and practical conference on combating the spread of HIV infection in the Volga Federal District was held in Nizhny Novgorod, which brought together practitioners from all regions of the Volga region, including the chief doctors of the AIDS Centers and representatives of relevant ministries.

According to the press service of the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the conference was chaired by the chief freelance specialist on HIV infection of the Russian Ministry of Health, head of the Moscow City AIDS Center Alexei Mazus.

According to Mazus, at the end of 2023, Russia recorded a record decrease in the number of newly diagnosed patients with HIV, and the Nizhny Novgorod region makes a significant contribution to these statistics.

In particular, the number of newly identified HIV cases in the region decreased by more than 13% – this is the best indicator in the entire Volga Federal District, which indicates serious and comprehensive work with residents.

It is noted that Nizhny Novgorod residents diagnosed with HIV are fully provided with antiretroviral drugs, the necessary set of laboratory tests and dispensary observation.

“Today in Russia there are all opportunities for people with HIV to live a full life, and women with this diagnosis can give birth to a healthy child. In this regard, the Nizhny Novgorod region is one of the leaders in our country,” emphasized Alexey Mazus.

Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Andrei Checherin noted that the low prevalence of HIV infection in the region is due to complex interdepartmental work, which involves not only doctors, but also representatives of social protection institutions, education and culture, law enforcement agencies, volunteers and the public.

The head of the Nizhny Novgorod AIDS Center, Solomon Apoyan, spoke about the constant improvement of the work of the medical institution. For example, the formation of a single digital circuit is nearing completion, thanks to which test results from the robotic laboratory are sent within 24 hours to medical organizations, and, if the patient wishes, to his personal account on the State Services.

“Another area of ​​our work is the development of a mobile application, with the help of which every patient with HIV infection in the region has direct access to a personal medical record,” explained Solomon Apoyan.

During the conference, participants discussed clinical masks of HIV infection, the consequences of COVID-19 in HIV-infected people, perinatal prevention, features of tuberculosis treatment and cardiovascular risks in patients with HIV and many other issues.