Macedonia has received funds in the amount of EUR 10,7 million for support of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in period 2012-2016 from the Global Fund, said Health Minister Nikola Todorov at Thursday's press conference in Skopje downtown on occasion of 1 December, World AIDS Day.

Todorov said the programme is focused on prevention activities aimed at risk groups, along with novelties involving activities for coordination and organization of the HIV/AIDS national response.

"The new grant also envisages the securing of a Hepatitis C therapy for drug users, and increased involvement of the local communities. The Health Ministry has realized a number of activities in the course of the year, whereas additional funds have been secured for next year's procurement of antiretroviral therapy and tests", he added.

Todorov said Macedonia remained in the group of countries with a small number of registered HIV/AIDS cases.

"It is good that Macedonia continues to be in the low prevalence states (142 registered HIV/AIDS cases), with a trend of reducing the rate of newly-infected and extending the lives of those infected as a result of the antiretroviral therapy, which is currently given to 45 patients", emphasized the Health Minister.

Health Education and Research Association (HERA) executive director Bojan Jovanovski said the number of HIV tests in Macedonia has increased compared to previous years, but the percentage of citizens doing an HIV test is still significantly low.

"Only one percent of the total population did an HIV test in 2010. In regional terms, more than 60 percent of individuals living with HIV are not aware of their HIV status, whereas late diagnosis is one of the main obstacles for successful fight with the HIV infection", added Jovanovski.

United States Ambassador to Macedonia Paul Wohlers said an AIDS-free generation required three key scientific interventions - prevention of mother-child transfer, increase of voluntary circumcision of men, and treatment as prevention.

"We encourage the Macedonian Government to enhance its capacities, have national solutions and increase the financing of AIDS-related programmes. Efforts of the civil society, including religious groups and AIDS patients, is also of essential significance", stressed Wohlers.

Marija Kisman, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) country office, said situation in Europe is alarming, since number of reported cases has increased by 2,5 times since 2001.

"The number of reported cases in 2010 is 712,477 but if one takes into account the non-reported data from the Russian Federation, Spain and France, we are talking about 1,4 million people. This is an enormous number for such a small territory as Europe", emphasized Kisman.

The 2011 World AIDS Day slogan is "Getting to Zero. Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Death".