Twenty Four new HIV/AIDS cases were diagnosed from December 2012 to June this year. Out of the total, 13 are male and 11 female. According to a press release from heath ministry, the new cases reported are from all occupational background. They are from 12 to 56 years old.
The release states that 71 percent of the new cases are from young and productive age group of 25 to 49 years. Majority of the new cases were detected through Antenatal Care (ANC) screening.
Currently, there are 249 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country and 120 are on ART (Anti–Retroviral Therapy).
The Health Ministry plans to introduce HIV testing through ANC in all the 184 BHUs by September, this year. This is to intensify the HIV case findings and to achieve the national goal of zero transmission from mother to child by 2015.