Since 1988, December 1 has been observed as World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and to remember those who have died as a result of the disease.
Aids is a condition in which the body’s cellular immunity is severely compromised, drastically reducing resistance to infection and cancer. Get tested this week to find out what your status is.
Testing is available at the AIDS Secretariat on the corner of Long and Temple streets on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You may also be tested Saturday from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rotary Club House on Factory Road, and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red Cross on Old Parham Road.
Too many individuals who test positive, according to the secretariat, rely on natural or homemade cures rather than seeking aid from the professional health service.
While the national attention has switched to the COVID-19 pandemic, National HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Delcora Williams says her agency has continued to educate the public about HIV/AIDS and the need for individuals to adopt precautions to avoid catching or spreading the illness.
She stated that 1,355 people had tested positive for the illness since it was first discovered in Antigua in 1985. 907 people are living with HIV are alive out of that total.
This year, 40 new HIV infections have been verified, with three fatalities. In 2020, there were 29 new positive cases. There were seven HIV/AIDS fatalities last year, compared to 17 in 2019.
