PREVENTION OF AIDS

During recent years Latvia has been facing a very topical problem -increasing number of young drug addicts. The surveys, done in Tukums town schools show that 30 % of pupils have tried narcotics. A number of people infected by HIV are increasing as well - in 1999 Tukums district had 8 recorded cases, in year 2000 - 16, thus Tukums takes 7^th place in Latvia regarding the number of these patients.

One of the most often mentioned ways of getting infected is carrying virus with blood, shaking syringes and needles to get injections of narcotic stuff. To be aware to the intravenous narcotic users and to diminish getting infected with HIV/AIDS syringe exchange centres have been formed in Latvia.

As a result of joint cooperation between Tukums Town Council Social Department and AIDS prevention centre the first syringe exchange centre has been formed outside Riga. The centre provides not only exchange of used syringes to new ones 1: 1 but also it offers consultation. HIV test analysis is being planned in future.

To inform the community about HIV and AIDS several events have been organized in Tukums. One of them was seminar for school teachers, social workers and other people interested in the problem with debates on the following themes: What is HIV/AIDS? What are narcotics, their classification. The possible help to a drug addict, AIDS patient.

On the World day of AIDS youth club 10x10 held a special event about HIV/AIDS during which young people were writing their answers to a letter of a young person infected with HIV, they also gave their opinion.

To promote a healthy approach to life the main task would be to inform young people about disastrous effect of narcotics. So we would be happy to receive information, suggestions how this work is done in other cities.