HIV/AIDS infections decreasing in The Bahamas | Loop Caribbean News – Loop News Caribbean

The Bahamas is on course to be among the countries that have effectively managed the HIV/AIDS epidemic as health officials reported today that infections from 2010 to 2019 decreased by 53 per cent.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville said that progress has been steady of the last few years.

He revealed that 95 per cent of Bahamians infected with HIV know their status while 73 per cent of the people are on medication.

Additionally, 81 per cent of those on treatment have relatively low viral loads.

The Bahamas has reached a moment where we are able to say where tremendous progress is being made and that the end of the AIDS epidemic is in sight, Darville said.

Since 2014, countries though the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have observed the '90-90-90' Initiative with the goals of having 90 per cent of all individuals with HIV knowing their status, 90 per cent of those diagnosed on treatment, and 90 per cent of those on treatment suppressing the virus.

There were about 4,437 people living with HIV in The Bahamas by the end of 2021, according to Dr Nikkiah Forbes, Director of the HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases programme.

Darville added the government would continue its support for national HIV/AIDS programs to allow patients to access all services free of charge.

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HIV/AIDS infections decreasing in The Bahamas | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean