In the last six months, the health ministry detected 32 new HIV cases in 17 males and 15 females. The majority of them are between 25-49 years old. All of them have acquired the infection through unprotected sex. With this, the total number of HIV cases detected in the country since the first one in 1993 stands at 773.
Among the new cases by occupational group, 11 are housewives, 10 drivers, five farmers, three from the religious body, one from prison and two from unemployed youths.
Among the new cases, 15 were diagnosed through Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), five each from antenatal screening and contact tracing while six through the medial screening and then one from blood donor screening. Currently, all the new cases are being put on care and treatment.
An official from the health ministry said HIV testing is available in all the health care facilities and across the country, the health information and service centres in six major urban areas and private diagnostic centres. Besides, the ministry is gearing up for the community-based testing using the HIV Self-Testing kit where trained laymen from the identified communities will conduct the testing within their network.
The ministry through the Global Fund (National and Regional Grant) and WHO support is now ready with the required guidelines and protocols to roll out the HIV Self-Testing demonstration project starting this month in six priority districts in Thimphu, Paro, Phuentshogling, Gelegphu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse.
As per the UNAIDS estimate, Bhutan has around 1300 positive cases. This means the country still needs to find 527 missing cases to bridge the current detection gap of 40.5 per cent.
According to the health ministry, despite its efforts, HIV-related stigma and discrimination are the major barriers to controlling the disease.
A press release from the ministry states, “The stigma and discrimination can largely discourage key and vulnerable populations like men having sex with men, sex workers, and those injecting drugs to show up for testing.” It further states, “Stigma and discrimination is the number one cause for HIV transmission to a larger population.”
The press release mentioned that unlike in the past, there are scientifically well-proven effective HIV medicine that can reduce HIV in the body and improve the immune system to stay a healthy and long life.
However, timely testing is the only means to know HIV status to initiate early treatment and then good adhere to the treatment.
Meanwhile, as per the health ministry’s records, the majority of the reported cases in Bhutan is between the age range of 25 and 49 years. This meaning HIV has primarily affected the country’s most economically productive age group.
Kelzang Choden
