By Admin. Updated 1:38 p.m., Friday, December 1, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines records an average of 35 new HIV cases each year.
This was revealed today (December 1) on radio by Infectious Disease Specialist – Dr. Jose Davy.
She was speaking about World AIDS Day 2023 which is being observed today.
Dr. Davy said that “every year, we get at least between the late twenties and the maximum in the fifties per year,” referring to the number of HIV cases recorded.
“For instance, last year, we had 54 cases , but generally, it staggers around 35 cases per year,” she said.
She said that currently, “we have in care some 430 persons are receiving anti retroviral therapy”.
She said the number of new infections is significant and needs to come down.
“Although we would be termed a low burden, the Caribbean still has the second highest HIV infection rate on what we call prevalence, second only to SubSaharan Africa,” she said.
“So, we need these numbers to come down,” she added.
The infectious disease specialist advised persons to check their status and to practice safe sex.
“When I’m talking HIV, I would like to emphasize all other sexually transmitted diseases because if you’re exposed to one then it increases your risk for others,” she said.
She said [if] “you’re going to have sex, you need to know the status of your partner . If you don’t know the status of your partner in that instance, you’re going to have to use a condom”.
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