Cuba reaffirmed the commitment to work so that in the year 2030 the epidemic of HIV AIDSa disease from which around 1,500 people are infected annually in the country, according to official media on the island.
On the day commemorating the World Day against HIV/AIDS, Dr. Manuel Romero Placeres, head of the National HIV Prevention and Control Program of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP)reported that the prevalence in the country is 0.4%, according to a report of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The coordinated effort between the institutions associated with @MINSAPCubaUNDP and the @GlobalFundis fundamental to the results of this struggle for life. pic.twitter.com/G6Ea6Yb5sG
— UNDP Cuba (@PNUDCuba) December 1, 2022
The specialist specified that a large part of the people living with HIV do not die of AIDS and maintain in Cuba the condition obtained in 2015, which certifies the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
Romero Placeres added that this year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic situation, the health system together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Pan American Health Organization ( PAHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) intensified actions to improve these results.
In turn, he recognized that there are still manifestations of stigma and discrimination with patients with this disease, so it is crucial to address the inequalities that slow down and limit timely access to health services.
The manager also explained to the press that currently 86% of those infected in Cuba know they are living with HIV, 95.3% of them receive antiretroviral treatment and 88.6% have an undetectable viral load.
Cuba with the lowest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
He emphasized that the work is focused on ending the year above 90% in the three indicators and that this correlation reaches 90-90-90 in 2030.
The expert also referred to the issue of the deficit in the marketing of condoms that currently exists in the country. He said that the reason is the difficulty in acquiring it and pointed out that the MINSAP, in collaboration with the agencies of the United Nations Organization (UN), prioritizes the supply to “key populations with high risk of contracting HIV”, refers to the publication.
HIV/AIDS is considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every December 1, a world day is commemorated with the aim of informing, raising awareness, preventing and adding participants in these actions.
The ACN recalls that Cuba joins the international campaign that this year has as its premise “Equality now”, to work on those practical measures that demonstrate the need to treat disparities and help eliminate AIDS.
