This year a regional conference on HIV/AIDS in Skopje 9 new cases of AIDS in Macedonia in 2005   Nine new cases of people infected with AIDS were registered in Macedonia in 2005, which is the highest number of people infected in a year so far. What concerns most is the fact that there are two children among them. Since the start of the epidemic, 76 people with HIV/AIDS have been registered in Macedonia. “In the Western Balkan countries there are not many people infected with HIV or AIDS, which does not mean that the problem is to be ignored. On the contrary, the situation requires in-time action and prevention, paying special attention to the risky groups”. This was emphasized at the first regional conference on HIV/AIDS for the Western Balkan countries, which took place in the month of November in Skopje. “This year, nine new cases were registered in Macedonia. All of the infected are not only transmitters of the virus, but are already sick with AIDS. This points to the fact the disease had been discovered late, because of which, it has to be spoken and acted upon the prevention more in future”, said Vesna Velik – Stefanovska, national coordinator for HIV/AIDS in Macedonia. On the day for fight against AIDS, 1 December, the best idea for a poster and the best slogan for fight of the Youth Action against HIV/AIDS 2005 were selected. Of the 174 received suggestions, the jury selected the one of the high school student Nikola Angelkovski from Skopje. “Since the only hero I know for protection from AIDS is the condom, I picked the slogan “Who is your hero?”, and illustrated the condoms with the film characters”, said Angelkovski. This year, the civil society organization H.E.R.A. joined the World AIDS Campaign (headquartered in Amsterdam), which has members from all regions in the world. They say in H.E.R.A. that they will continue with the usual activities, such as organizing educational training courses, etc. The Youth Centre for Healthy Sex and Reproduction “I want to know” will continue working as well since a lot of high school students ask for advice and free medical check-ups there.   M.K.