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SPOTLIGHT - AIDS & Children At the beginning of the 1990s over 50% of European children infected with AIDS were living in Romania. Despite several reforms and programs in the medical system, the situation has not changed very much. At this moment, there are over 7,000 children and teenagers infected with HIV. Most of these children and teen-agers were infected at the end of the 1980s in Romanian hospitals through blood transfusions made without HIV virus testing and the reuse of syringes without proper sterilization. Between 1987 and 1990 “luxury transfusions” were made - blood transfusions given to children suffering of malnourishment. Most of these HIV infected children were sent to placement centers (boarding schools.)  Today, in Romania, every eighth child aged between 1 and 4 years old and every sixth child aged between 15 and 24 years old die of AIDS.
 
Even though doctors have said several times that this virus can only be transmitted only through blood transfusions or sexual contact, there remains a social stigma attached to the disease. Children who are diagnosed with HIV infection are forced to leave their public schools being rejected by their peers and teachers.  (Continue)