Cuba increases actions to control AIDS epidemic

Cuba increases actions to control AIDS epidemic
Fecha de publicación: 
11 December 2017
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Cuba develops multiples actions to face AIDS epidemic, geared at reducing the new infections, late diagnosis and deaths caused by that disease, as well as to improve the quality of life of people living with the disease.

In conversation with the CAN, Dr. Maria Isela Lantero Abreu, head of the Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) /HIV /AIDS, of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), explained that by 2020 the 90-90-90 Goals of the region hope to expand testing and treatment services.

“This is a commitment made by UN member countries, related to having diagnosed by that year 90 percent of the people living with HIV in the population”, she asserted.

“Likewise, it foresees that equal percentage is guaranteed the continuous antiretroviral treatment and that 90 percent of those receiving that procedure manage to suppress the viral load, as late diagnoses are reduced”, she added.

“These goals are essential aimed at achieving the commitment to eliminate HIV epidemic as a global health problem by 2030”, the MINSAP expert remarked.

“With a view to achieving that goal, Cuba strengthens prevention actions and although the results are still preliminary today, 81 percent of those people are under treatment”, she stated.

The country has diagnosed about 28,000 people with that disease since the onset of the epidemic in 1986, and currently some 23,000 are living with that condition.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), since the appearance of the first cases, the disease has killed over 34 million people globally and at present some 37 million people are living with HIV.

“In 2005, Cuba became the first country in the world to validate the elimination of the mother-to-child HIV and congenital syphilis, certification that remains nowadays”, the specialist announced.

“By 2018, the basic strategies continue to be the promotion of condom use, prevention, the work among sectors and with key groups, the training of promoters, and training”, specified the official, who participates at the 6th International Seminar on HIV/AIDS infection in Cuba.

Translated by Jorge Mesa Benjamin / Cubasi Translation Staff

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