9 confirmed HIV cases, actual figure expected to be higher

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said that despite the current number of confirmed HIV and AIDS cases in Maldives standing at 9, the actual figure was expected to be higher.

In the information sheet released by HPA on occasion of World AIDS Day being marked this Thursday, the agency said that the number of HIV patients in Maldives was lower compared to the number of HIV patients in other countries of the region.

The first HIV case was diagnosed in Maldives in 1991, and the confirmed number of HIV cases in Maldives by end of 2015 is 23.

12 of them have died, while 9 patients are still alive.

HPA warns that the actual number of HIV infected people in Maldives may be higher.

“It’s likely that majority of AIDS patients are unaware they are infected with HIV,” said HPA.

The agency reports that more than 350 cases of HIV have been diagnosed during medical checkups done on foreigners who applied for work permits in Maldives.

Maldives had taken measures to maintain the country’s status as a low HIV-infected country during the infancy of the world AIDS outbreak, including the formation of National AIDS Council in 1987 to create a national framework to combat and eradicate the disease.

In addition, National AIDS Program has been running since 1991; designed to assess the spread of AIDS and STDs in the country, treat those infected, and take preventive measures to protects those at risk.

Through the program, the State provides free medical care for HIV and AIDS patients, and provides the information and resources needed to prevent the spread of the disease.

World Health Organization estimates 36.7 million HIV patients in the world by end of 2015 – one third of them living in Africa.

Meanwhile, WHO lists some Asian countries frequented by Maldivians as high-risk countries with new outbreaks of the disease.

1.1 million people died from AIDS in 2015; and 2.1 million were diagnosed with HIV – a 35 percent drop when compared to 2000.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2016 is “Hands up for HIV Prevention”.

The local campaign for AIDS prevention this year focuses on raising awareness over the importance of getting tested for HIV, and raising awareness on the free and confidential HIV testing with immediate results available in the country.