Maia Butsashvili: The prevalence of AIDS in Russia is very high - we should actively offer HIV testing to migrants in order to identify those infected promptly and start their treatment in time

Remember, Russia is a country where AIDS is a very big problem - we should actively offer HIV testing to migrants in order to identify those infected and start their treatment in time, said infectious disease expert Maia Butsashvili at a press conference in "Mediacenter Mtavari".

According to her, the increased migration from Russia creates a risk that the influx of infected people will increase.

"The prevalence of AIDS in Russia is very high. You know that migration has increased significantly, and therefore there is a risk that the influx of infected people will be high. Sexual contacts with the local population are quite frequent. Therefore, we always warn the population to remember that Russia is a country with a very big problem of AIDS, and the population should take precautions. At the state level, the awareness of the population should be increased, the population should be warned often to remember this disease. Also, we should actively offer HIV testing to migrants in order to identify infected people promptly and, if necessary, start their treatment in time," noted the infectious disease specialist.