The National HIV, AIDS and STIs Control Program of the Ministry of Health has detected 27 new HIV cases, taking the total number of people living with the virus in the country to 452.
Of the new cases, 15 are male and 12 female. Age wise, 78 per cent are between the ages of 20 to 49 and 22 per cent above 50.
In terms of occupational group of the new cases, 30 per cent are housewives. Farmers account for 26 per cent and 19 per cent are private and business persons. Seven per cent are drivers and four per cent civil servants.
The health ministry says 37 per cent were diagnosed through voluntary testing and medical screening and 22 per cent through contact tracing. Four per cent were detected through blood donor screening.
All 27 contracted the virus through unprotected sex, says the ministry.
“Every time someone gets tested for HIV, we are one step closer to ending the AIDS epidemic,” health minister Tandin Wangchuk stated in a release.
“Learning your HIV status opens the door to powerful HIV prevention and treatment options that could save your life or the life of someone you love. If more Bhutanese were tested as recommended, we could prevent hundreds of needless HIV infections and deaths.”
Young age sexuality, multiple sexual practices, low-risk perception, sex under the influence of alcohol, increased mobility and low condom use remain key factors contributing to acquisition and transmission of HIV in Bhutan.
The Director of the Department of Public Health says education, awareness, prevention, and treatment are the key to ending HIV epidemic, but the existence of social and self-stigma deters timely diagnosis and treatment.
“Based on the 2018 UNAIDS estimation for Bhutan, we are supposed to detect a cumulative of 1,265 HIV cases in the country. We need to move on war footing pace to bridge the current case detection gap of 53 per cent,” she said.
She added HIV/AIDS can be ended only if we address stigma and ensure young people are central to the response.
Of the 452 people living with HIV virus in the country, 422 are on Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. The remaining 6.6 per cent are defaulters and non-compliant cases, stated the ministry.
The ministry added it is constantly educating the public and reaching out to the most at-risk and vulnerable populations with the comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention services.
Some of the new initiatives taken to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, it says, are the introduction of mobile HIV testing and counseling services and installation of 55 condom vending machines in 13 priority districts to promote condom use.
Five hundred and ninety seven cases of HIV have been reported since the first one was detected in 1993.
