UNICEF concerned of the attitude to AIDS patients in Azerbaijan

Khana Singer, Representative of the UNICEF in Azerbaijan, made a statement for the press that arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, in which she expressed her concern of the recently escalating negative attitude in the country towards HIV/AIDS patients:

"In view of the fact that HIV-infected persons are still causing in many people associations with negative stereotypes of drug addiction, prostitution and "bad behaviour" in general, the UNICEF would like to remind that nobody is safeguarded against this disease, and the society should apply more efforts for protecting and supporting the people who have fallen victims of HIV/AIDS."

The UNICEF Representative has also noted: "Mass media play an important role in counteraction the spread of HIV/AIDS. The AIDS, much more than any other disease, is a combination of social factors, such as an inequality, stigma and ignorance."

We note here that in the opinion of experts, during the latest years Azerbaijan has witnessed a growth in the number of AIDS-infected persons.

Azerbaijan has officially registered 1,500 AIDS carriers, while the number of patients beyond the official statistics is much higher. 57 percent of AIDS patients were infected through drug use, about 20 percent - through sexual contacts, and one case of infection through donor's blood was registered. Eight children are infected from birth.