HIV Awareness: “Know Your Status, Get Tested”
During the month of June, the Ministry of Health and Seniors, in conjunction with the charity Supportive Therapy for AIDS persons and their Relatives [STAR], is observing HIV Awareness Month.
A spokesperson said, “Knowing one’s HIV status, and early diagnosis, are important for maintaining health and reducing the spread of the virus. Given the preventable nature of HIV and advances in HIV/AIDS care, the Ministry believes that a generation free of HIV is possible and encourages all people to get tested.”
Minister of Health and Seniors Jeanne Atherden said, “HIV Awareness Month is an opportunity to promote UNAIDS’ vision of ‘Getting to Zero’ cases. Over the last 25 years, Bermuda has made great strides towards UNAIDS’ vision.
“There have not been any mother‐to‐child transmissions of HIV for almost two decades and S.T.A.R. has been instrumental in providing education, counseling, housing and support for Bermudian families that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
“As we press toward our goal of an HIV free generation in Bermuda, I encourage our community to rally together to continue the progress made by HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention initiatives. I would also like to acknowledge our Communicable Disease Control team, public health nurses and nurse epidemiologist, who provide care and health counseling to persons living with HIV/AIDS.”
“Fewer than 10 new HIV infections have been reported each year from 2011-2015. AIDS incidence peaked in 1995 with 49 cases reported and has declined since then with 10 or fewer cases reported annually since 2004.
“Currently, there are over 300 people living with HIV in Bermuda. Most, just over 68%, are between the ages of 25-44, 75% are male and 90% are Bermudian.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] and the World Health Organization [WHO] have recommended that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Persons likely to be at increased risk of HIV should get tested more often, at least annually, depending on their level of risk.
“Bermuda endorses the vision of UNAIDS [Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS] which is ‘Getting to Zero: Zero New Infections, Zero Discrimination, Zero AIDS‐Related Deaths’. According to UNAIDS, in 2015 there were over 36 million people worldwide living with HIV.”
Well why don’t you stop the people passing other decreases, when they know they have it, thats on the raise, sex warts, herpes. The people passing it and know need to be stopped.
Herpes is not going to kill you or make you infertile, that’s why, no one cares about diseases that are merely a nuisance, ever wonder why there’s not cure for the common cold? Because it’s only a nuisance, everyone has had the common cold and yet there’s nothing you can do for it other than treat your symptoms. Why? Because like herpes, it’s practically harmless.
And our Government have opened de floodgates on immigration !!!!!!!!!!!@
90% are Bermudian?