In the Dominican Republic, two out of every 10 people who have the HIV virus, do not know that they have the AIDS-carrying virus. According to the executive director of the National Council for HIV and AIDS (Conavihsida), Victor Terreno, this fact presented a challenge when it comes to prevention of the virus.
Speaking on World AIDS Day, Terrero said that 69,700 people have HIV of who 59,291 are registered in the National Program of Integrated Care. He said that the majority of the new cases are Haitians, and as they are often in the country illegally, they do go to the hospitals.
In the country, HIV affects 0.8% of the population. Terrero said that it is important to maintain the strategy of prevention and care, calling on the population to ensure they have the necessary blood test to identify if they have the virus.
The National Health Service (SNS) said that via the Integrated Care Service (SAI) which was located in 74 centers within the Public Network and NGOs, there were 62,383 people registered who were living with HIV and AIDS; 61,273 adults and 1,110 children.
The SAIs offer specialized consultations in HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, psychological support, free anti-viral medications, and free tuberculosis medicines.
The director of the SNS, Chanel Rosa Chupany, said that around 60% of those registered were active within the program, and that they were implementing a series of measures to involve those who had abandoned the program previously.
The SAI carry out home visits to re-integrate people in the program via 18 priority centers in the provinces of Santo Domingo, Valverde, Puerto Plata, Santiago, La Romana and Higüey.
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Al Momento
3 December 2019