There are more children infected with HIV or AIDS in Romania than in the rest of Europe and most of the population believe they should live in a regime of isolation, also in hospitals. This is one of the findings of a survey conducted by the international organization World Vision. This isolation of HIV-affected children, according to the Chi-Ro Foundation devoted to the care of sick children, must be combated with information to “make people realise that HIV is an infection like any other and that this disease is not something shameful, as most people think”. The number of children affected by the virus, according to the experience of the Institute of Dr. Matei Bals of Bucharest, is growing: today there are over 11,500 HIV-positive children in Romania, whereas there were only 10,000 at the end of 2003.
