President Victor Yushchenko came today to a ceremony of opening the Clinic for children ill with HIV/AIDS at Kyiv OHMADYT children’s hospital.

In his speech at the event President Yushchenko said: “We are opening the facility aimed at saving health and often life of the youngest citizen – of the child”. He also reminded that AIDS nowadays is a serious challenge for Ukrainian society, with almost 123 thousand people registered HIV-positive as for January 1, 2008. Therefore it is necessary according to him to open more such facilities in the regions and to adopt a national program of HIV/AIDS counteraction.

During the ceremony President also presented national awards on the location of the International Child Protection Day.