Embassy Press Release

"Open Your Heart": 2006 HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination Campaign Launched in Bucharest

To combat the discrimination faced by those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, a new campaign under the slogan “Open Your Heart! I’m just like you!” was launched this morning at a Bucharest press conference. The campaign launch coincides with the observation of World AIDS Day, a worldwide event remembering those who have lost their lives to AIDS and supporting those living with the disease.

U.S. Embassy Charge D’Affaires Mark Taplin joined Romanian government officials and NGO representatives in saluting the courage of people living with AIDS and in encouraging Romanians of all age groups to become informed about HIV. Mr. Taplin extended special congratulations to the many young people engaged in AIDS-related activism throughout the country.

According to Ministry of Health data, as of September 30, 2006, there were 12,007 persons known to be HIV-positive in Romania. The majority of the country’s HIV-positive are children and adolescents.

Mr. Taplin said that the United States has pledged more than $17 billion to international AIDS relief since 2001, both through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which is active in Romania.

Mr. Taplin reaffirmed the United States Government’s commitment to working with its partners, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Global Fund, the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organization, and others, to do everything possible to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to show respect and caring to those who are HIV-positive.

U.S. Government funding for the 2006 campaign is overseen by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Groups including John Snow Research and Training Institute (JSI) and local NGOs such as the National Union of Organizations of People with AIDS (UNOPA), the Romanian Association against AIDS (ARAS), and Close to You (Alaturi de Voi) will be active members of the campaign.

During the seven months of the campaign, HIV-positive youth and others will be invited to submit plays on AIDS-related themes to a national contest. The winning play or plays will be produced on-stage. Local-level press events, distribution of educational materials, and many other activities to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS will also be organized across the country.

For more information about this year’s campaign, please contact:
Dr. Alina Panait, USAID/Romania Tel. 316 12 22 ext 149

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