Half of new Greek HIV cases are self inflicted - to receive 700 euro per month benefits ? So much for Greece recovery meme.......

Half Of New Greek HIV Cases Are Self-Inflicted To Receive €700 Per Month Benefits, Study Finds

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 11/25/2013 11:19 -0500

• European Central Bank
 
• Greece
 
• International Monetary Fund

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When one reads the following stunning, and tragic, excerpt from the World Health Organization's recent report "Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region: final report" what can one say but... Grecovery.

From the WHO:

Case study: countries’ experiences of financial crisis - Greece

Suicides rose by 17% between 2007 and 2009 and to 25% in 2010, according to unofficial 2010 data (398). The Minister of Health reported a further 40% rise in the first half of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. Suicide attempts have also increased, particularly among people reporting economic distress (610). Homicide and theft rates have doubled. HIV rates and heroin use have risen significantly, with about half of new HIV infections being self-inflicted to enable people to receive benefits of €700 per month and faster admission on to drug-substitution programmes. Prostitution has also risen, probably as a response to economic hardship. Health care access has declined as hospital budgets have been cut by about 40% (398) and it is estimated that 26 000 public health workers (9100 doctors) will lose their jobs (611). Further cuts are expected as a result of recent negotiations with the IMF and European Central Bank.

But at least they have the Euro.

h/t @timmyconspiracy

European drug experts sound warning on austerity, citing rise in Greek HIV infections

A homeless person sleeps in front shuttered shop due to crisis at the upscale Voukourestiou street in Athens on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. (Petros Giannakouris)

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The Associated Press
Published Monday, November 25, 2013 10:45AM EST 

ATHENS -- Drug experts and policy makers from around Europe are gathering in Athens to urge their governments to exclude drug treatment from economic austerity programs, citing an alarming rise in HIV infections among drug users in Greece.

The number of reported new infections among drug users in Greece shot up from 22 in 2010 to 245 in 2011, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Experts blame the rise on a number of factors, several related to Greece's major financial crisis.

The visiting experts on Monday visited a newly opened supervised drug-taking room set up in central Athens. The declaration to European governments was to be formally made Tuesday.