The three regional social assistance centers for people with HIV/AIDS of Chisinau, Balti and Comrat may be financed with money allocated from the state budget to the budgets of the territorial-administrative units for special purposes. A relevant legislative initiative was put forward by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, IPN reports.

The Ministry proposed providing 386,600 lei to the Chisinau center, 302,000 lei to the Balti center and 245,600 lei to the Comrat center. It also suggested covering the personnel-related costs for 2015 of the three centers, assessed at 1.2 million lei.

Contacted by IPN, director of the Association “Positive Initiative” Alexandr Curasov said the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Moldova is much higher than the official statistics. Five of the 20 rapid saliva tests for the HIV virus turned out to be positive. The three regional assistance centers are welcome, but new services should be implemented, such as temporary accommodation for persons with HIV/AIDS released from detention, without a permanent place of residence, etc.

According to Alexandr Curasov, a minimum program of medical services should be instituted to enable performing primary examinations, treatment and monitoring. 60% of the cases of HIV infection are detected too late owing to the lack of state screening services.

More than 8,000 persons with HIV/AIDS were officially registered in Moldova in 2003.