DILI, 14 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The Commission for the Control of Communicable Disease (CNCD) registered 334 cases of HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste, within the year 2021.
The cases of HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste had been increased from 1.120 in 2020 to 1.464 this year.
“Most of the cases are recorded in Dili and Covalima municipality”, said the Director of CNCD, Josefina Clarina João, at the Novo Turismo Hotel, in Dili.
According to the data of the commission, of the 1.464 cases, 719 are currently under treatment, with 511 patients were lost to follow-up for treatment, and 234 deaths.
Clarina said the infected patients are between the ages of 14 and 70 years old.
She explained that most of the transmission cases of the virus were via sexual intercourse: Therefore, using condoms is important to prevent the transmission of the virus through sexual relations.
She said CNCD continues to put efforts to raise the awareness of the population about HIV/AIDS: “We know many people don’t agree with the use of condoms.”
Clarina asked all the health professionals to not reveal the identities of the HIV/AIDS patients.
In addition, the Executive Director of the Estrela+ Association, Inês Lopes, informed that, according to a survey conducted by her NGO, around 40 percent of health professionals did not keep the identity of the HIV/AIDS patients in secret.
“Estrela carried out a survey with 81 infected patients of HIV/AIDS, 40 percent of whom confessed that people know their health status through health professionals,” he said.
Clarina added some HIV/AIDS patients had turned away from treatment: “This is because they were worried that the health professional might reveal their health status.”
Jornalist: Jesuína Xavier
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
