During the campaign, traffic police inspectors of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and specialists from the HIV infection and PVG prevention department of the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health distributed retroreflective elements, HIV self-testing kits, and informational materials on HIV prevention to road users.

– In anticipation of HIV Prevention Day, which is celebrated on December 1, such events are held in all regional centers and the city of Molodechno by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology, – explained Valentina Ananyeva, head of the HIV infection and parenteral viral hepatitis prevention department of the regional center for hygiene, epidemiology and public health. – The main goal is to inform the public, motivate them towards safer behavior, knowing their HIV status, and, of course, towards a healthy lifestyle.

... Traffic police officers of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Police Major Yulia Kaminskaya, Senior Police Lieutenant Nikita Semenkov, Senior Police Lieutenant Maria Fedosova, selectively stop road users. They offer to participate in the campaign and answer specialists' questions. It turns out that some drivers mistakenly believe that young people are more susceptible to HIV infection. Medical statistics indicate that this disease is more often registered in people aged 30-49. Many of those surveyed are well-informed about precautionary measures and modes of transmission of the infection. Participants of the campaign are given souvenirs, HIV self-testing kits, informational materials, and reflectors.

Testing with the proposed kit (which, by the way, can also be purchased at a pharmacy), explains Valentina Ananyeva, provides an approximate result to assess your risks of infection if something is bothering you. Further, in case of a positive result, one should get examined by specialists. A final diagnosis can only be made as a result of a blood test.

Regarding the HIV situation, we can speak of a certain stabilization of the process, believes the specialist.

The situation in our region is one of the most favorable. From 1990 to November 1, 2025, 2130 cases of HIV infection were registered in the Vitebsk region; 1533 people living with HIV. In 10 months of the current year, 78 new cases of HIV infection were detected. All age groups of the population are involved in the epidemic process, however, the main proportion of citizens newly diagnosed with HIV infection in 2025 are people in the age group of 30–59 years (79.4%). For the entire observation period, the main route of transmission has been sexual – 84%. In 10 months of 2025, sexual transmission occurred in 89.7% of cases.

– The motto of the HIV Prevention Day this year, "Overcoming difficulties, change strategy," calls for maintaining the achievements of previous years in combating the spread of this disease, – says Valentina Ananyeva. – Our task is to detect HIV infection at an early stage. In this case, strict adherence to the prescribed treatment, following the regimen proposed by the doctor, and dispensary observation lead to a decrease in viral load to an undetectable level. In addition to improving the patient's quality of life, prevention is an important aspect. There is no complete cure, but the amount of the virus is reduced to such a level that the person is not a source of infection.

HIV treatment and testing are available and free of charge. However, the only remaining issue is fostering adherence to timely treatment, which will allow individuals to live with this formidable infection as they would with other chronic diseases, leading a normal life into old age.

vitebsk-region.gov.by