Our friends from Romania, who are running needle exchange and opioid substitution treatment are in a critical situation and they need our help. During the last decade efforts to reduce HIV prevalence among drug users in Romania, including needle exchange and opioid substitution programs, were funded almost entirely by international organizations such as the European Union, United Nations and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, despite it being the responsibility of the Romanian government to provide public health services for its citizens. Since 2010 financial support from international organizations was drastically reduced, forcing 4 out of 6 organizations providing needle exchange and opioid substitution treatment in Romania to shut down. This resulted in a severe reduction in the number of vulnerable people who have access to essential services and a sharp increase in HIV infections. However, the Romanian government still refuses to provide financial contribution. We call on the Romanian government, especially the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health, to supply organizations that provide services to drug users with sustainable, long term financial resources. Shut down of these programs will have seriously devastating consequences on the lives of vulnerable people as well as the rest of society. It is a great leap backwards and the vast social and economic costs to the country in the future are simply not justifiable. Now even the remaining programs will be shut down and drug users will be left without necessary services which will result in a dramatic rise of new HIV and other blood-borne virus infections, drug-related deaths and crime. The overwhelmingly negative human, social and financial cost of this neglect will be paid for years to come. Please share this message with other activists and sign the petition to the Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Romania.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 05:44:24 +0000