Russian statistics shows that as of 2002, the country has 1.5 mln people with HIV, which accounts for over 1% of the entire population, while only 1.1 mln of them are registered, thus leaving another 400,000 getting neither treatment nor medical advice or assistance.

As Tatyana Banschikova (Research & Education Center for Psychological Assistance, NCFU) noted, this is due to the public stigma attached to the issue.

People view the risk of contracting HIV as associated with inappropriate lifestyle, promiscuity and drugs, which explains the lack of desire to even bring it up.

This, just like many other related reasons add to the stigma, which, in turn, makes it more difficult to get an insight into the disease origins and transmission, let alone the treatment, including psychological.

As the NCFU expert noted, the HIV-positive status is still a death sentence to many, and causes numerous emotions when the person first learns about the diagnosis – shock, fear, depression, anger, despair, with many questions arising concerning the future.

– The most important point here to remember is to not stop staying I touch with someone who is HIV-positive. Just listen and try to understand, show that you are there for them. Even though the response may be unpredictable, you have to know that this is a symptom the person is suffering, – Tatyana Banschikova stressed while offering her recommendations.

You can get advice and take an HIV test in any public institution of healthcare offering services within your medical insurance policy. The services are free and confidential upon the patient’s request.