News

More women reported with HIV virus

June 14, 2015 6:19 pm

Out of the 64 new cases of HIV and AIDS confirmed last year, 37 were reported to be women.

It was observed that most of the cases were from young people between the ages of 20 to 29 years.

Acting National Advisor Family Health Dr Rachel Devi says, over the years the breakdown of the number of males and females confirmed with HIVAIDS has varied.

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“In 2014 alone, we had about 37 females and about 27 males, but this time around we had a lot more females, I mean few were diagnosed through the Antenatal Care Clinic visits etc, but having said that, we have actually fluctuated in the previous years, where we’ve had a different ratio of male females, sometimes the males are higher, sometimes the females are higher.”

Dr Devi says, most of the cases were reported from unprotected sex in heterosexual relationships.

The Ministry of Health is encouraging people to volunteer themselves to be tested for HIV so that counseling and care services can be made available should the need arise