23 men and 2 women will be infected with HIV in 2024, double the number last year. If these figures are to be taken with a grain of salt, because they could result from a higher screening rate, the situation is worrying. According to Doctor Nguyen, who has been treating patients with this virus for more than 30 years, fenua circulates more than we think. “In terms of epidemiology, HIV infection in the Polynesian population is increasing with an arithmetic trend. What worries me a little bit apart from the absolute number of the increase, is the greater proportion of patients who are infected in the territory. Before covid 19, approximately half of the new cases came from outside, infected elsewhere and half infected within the territory. In 2024, we saw that a little more than 70, 75% are people who have been infected in the territory. Which is a somewhat new phenomenon. »
If HIV is monitored and treated, the infected person may no longer be contagious and live an almost normal life. Among the patients screened and identified, 7 are no longer following their treatment and are sex workers. To prevent the virus from spreading in the streets, the association “Agir contre le sida” is proposing to the government to distribute PrEP, a preventive medication:
“We would like the government to act on this issue, lance Karel Luciani. This treatment should be available, it exists everywhere in the world. The WHO recommends the dissemination of this treatment as one of the main levers to fight the HIV pandemic.«
On the government side, the Minister of Health is not closed to this idea which he intends to study and plans to intensify already existing measures. “Today we need to intensify information. As much as it was acquired by our generation, the generation after must acquire it too. And we will all push together, at the level of each ministry, to better inform and prevent our entire population. There is a whole program that is put in place by the Health Department which is being redeployed again this year via all schools and will be intensified next year across all programs. »
Awareness-raising actions are not yet sufficient according to young people: “I find that as young people we are not necessarily informed about the dangers that can exist regarding AIDS and HIV,” confides a student.
“I think it’s better to do prevention from a young age, starting with middle school”estimates another.
As part of World AIDS Day, which will take place this Sunday, prevention and awareness actions will be carried out at the Papeete market.
On Monday 2, Tuesday 3 and Friday 6 December, free screening days will also be offered in a room close to the Medical Follow-up Center (CMS). If you want to go there, you must register at this number: 87 30 60 57.
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