Armenia joins the #UequalsU Campaign

Armenia joined the #UequalsU campaign, today the Armenian version of the U = U site was launched.

"We are very happy to join this international campaign. Within the frameworks of the campaign, we have already scheduled few TV performances, we are currently in talks with universities because we want to teach students about the latest HIV and AIDS research, and we will also send SMS messages all over Armenia, because we want everybody to know that HIV Undetectable = Untransmittable! We have already agreed about SMS campaign with VivaCell-MTS", said Anna Galstyan, the PR-manager of Positive People Armenian Network.

Galstyan said that collaboration with relevant international and regional organizations is established. The #UequalsU campaign will involve not only activists and NGOs, but also the National Centre for AIDS Prevention, the Ministry of Health of Armenia and Armenian missions of international organizations such as WHO, CCM Armenia and Médecins Sans Frontières.

"This year Armenia will join the European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week for the first time. It will take place from 17 to 24 November. We will not only perform HIV tests, our outreach workers will also talk to people about HIV and, of course, about UequalsU", Galstyan said.

"Undetectable = Untransmittable" campaign is a global initiative supported by a significant number of leading scientists and professional organizations. Russian-language campaign is organized by Life4me+.

A groundswell of research confirms that when a person living with HIV is on effective treatment, it will reduce the level of HIV to "undetectable" levels which protects their health and makes them incapable of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners, or what is called "Undetectable = Untransmittable: U=U". However very few people, except the experts, are aware about it in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. The first Russian-language campaign "U=U" aims to inform as many people as possible.

"We’re thrilled about the launch of the UequalsU campaign for Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. It is very important to educate about HIV and fight HIV stigma especially in countries where transmissions continue to grow. This is an important step to ensure Russian speaking people living with HIV, healthcare providers and policymakers can get accurate information about how treatment keeps people with HIV healthy and stops new transmissions. This goes a long way toward eliminating the HIV stigma which has been one of the greatest challenges to ending the epidemic," said Bruce Richman, the founder and executive director of the Global U=U Campaign.

Within the framework of the campaign, regional professional organizations will join the Consensus Statement.