It is a platform that brings together statistics on new infections, research and technical documents. It also has a map with the location of public health units and non-governmental organizations that offer HIV care.
The Network seeks to reduce the percentage of undiagnosed people through greater availability of tests and strengthen access to health services, explained Karla Berdichevsky, representative of Colmena Consultoras.
These measures are urgent because 38% of HIV cases are still diagnosed late in Mexico, said Víctor Rodríguez, director of Prevention and Social Participation of the National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV and AIDS (Censida) of the Ministry of Health.
”This means that people already arrived with some symptoms and already went to a health service and were not offered a diagnostic test,” he indicated.
It is estimated that 400,000 people live with HIV in Mexico; About 4,400 die each year and around 22,000 new infections are recorded annually, he explained.
The figures show the long distance towards the 2030 goals, which also promote the reduction of new infections and deaths, as well as eliminating stigma and discrimination, detailed Dosis Calderón, deputy representative of UNFPA Mexico.
Official Rodríguez explained that by 2024, Mexico had achieved that 80% of people with HIV were diagnosed; 81% are on antiretroviral treatment, and 93% are on virological suppression. All percentages below 95%.
“We are far from the goals,” he acknowledged and added: “We have not arrived, but we are going and we are on the path to achieving it.”
The HIV Response Network will accompany the efforts. With the endorsement of Censida, it will include on its platform the buttons “I want a test”, “I want PREp”, “I want treatment”. Through them, users will be guided on how and where to access these services.
