DILI, 30 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoH), through the HIV/AIDS, STIs, and Hepatitis Unit, reports that 250 new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have been notified by health facilities across the Country from january to september 2022.
“Of the 250 new cases, 86 were notified in Q1, 84 in Q2, and 70 cases in Q3. Meanwhile, from Q1 to Q3 2022, the Ministry of Health reported four deaths in the country,” the head of the Unit of HIV/AIDS, STIs and Hepatitis, Bernardino da Cruz, told TATOLI.
He said among these new cases, 77 have not received Anti Retroviral Treatment from the Ministry of Health: “Some of them still not ready to start treatment and our counselors are making approaches to ensure they can be enrolled in treatment”
Cruz informed that since 2003, the ministry has recorded 1776 HIV cases.
“So far, 186 people have died of AIDS-related causes during treatment, and 103 others have died after lost to follow.”
Of the 1776 people living with HIV, 927 are receiving intensive treatment, while 329 others have abandoned the treatment/ lost to follow up
Timor-Leste continues to see an increase in the number of HIV cases every year. The country recorded 202 cases in 2020, 214 infections in 2021, and 250 cases in 2022.
“The number of people who are living with HIV is much greater than the official case count,” Cruz said.
Timor-Leste’s 2022 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program focused on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission, and Stigma and Discrimination.
“We are working closely with the Komunidade Progress (a local HIV Key population Organization) to provide HIV/STI (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) prevention to key populations through their outreach activities and activities in the Drop-In Centres in 4 Municipalities and RAEOA. We also provided HIV training to doctors to look after HIV/STI treatment in municipalities. In addition, we also worked on raising HIV awareness among Timorese National Police (PNTL), National Defense Force (F-FDTL), and students and youth. Not only that, but we also focused our efforts on fighting stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in the country,” explained Cruz.
He said the Ministry of Health has made revisions and improvements to the National HIV Strategic Plan for 2022-2026: “Through the revision of the National HIV Strategic Plan we will have one integrated National Strategy for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Hepatitis.”
“New HIV prevention method will also be introduced known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), as well as HIV Self-testing. So, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) would be available as a preventive option for key populations to prevent getting HIV,” Cruz stressed.
He emphasized that National HIV Strategic Plan 2022-2026 also focuses on the prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission.
“Pregnant women with HIV should test for HIV/STI and hepatitis and be enrolled in proper treatment to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV/STI of Hepatitis. Treatment is also prevention,” he added.
In 2022, the Ministry of Health received almost US$1.7 million from the Global Fund to support its National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program: “The Global Fund had also made available US$1.3 million for Timor-Leste to combat HIV in 2023.”
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
