The Government approved a national programme for the prevention and control of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases for 2008/15, with the main goals to encourage prophylactic practices and limiting the spread of AIDS, as well as achieving a better quality of life for HIV positive people, Dnevnik daily reported on December 19 2008.

A larger portion of the programme's financing would be secured by the state budget, and about 30 per cent of the money would come from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The fund supports 550 programmes in 136 countries and since its creation in 2002, it has provided funding in amount of close to seven billion US dollars.

The official statement published by the Health Ministry said that there were 926 HIV-positive people in Bulgaria, though other research projects have concluded that the possible number for the country was 4000.

Since the beginning of the year and until November 18 2008, 111 new HIV cases have been registered, out of which 92 men and 19 women. In comparison, for the same time period but in 2007, the number of registered cases was 116. The average age of infected men is 31, while for the women it is 36.

Generally, all age groups are affected, though half of the newly-discovered cases ranged between 15 and 30 years of age. Most of the individuals have practised intravenous drug use, other have had homosexual contacts. Since the beginning of 2008, there were no children born by HIV positive mothers.

The statement indicates that 65 per cent of the newly detected HIV positive patients have been diagnosed at the anonymous and charge-free health offices for HIV/AIDS consultation and research. Since January 1 until September 2008, close to 29000 people have been tested.

Most of the newly diagnosed patients come from Sofia and the Plovdiv region. By the end of 2008, two AIDS clinics would open in Stara Zagora and Bourgas.