MoH to release latest HIV prevalence rate

 ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Health (MoH) disclosed that it is conducting a research that would help reveal the spread and rate of the HIV.

Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), HIV/AIDS Controlling and Prevention Director-General and Multi-Sectorial Response Desk Head Habtamu Kassa said that the ministry is conducting a research with an outlay of 3.6 million USD with a view to describing the prevalence of the disease.

He further stated that it has been seven years since such study was conducted, though it was supposed to be conducted every five years, which resulted in unavailability of accurate information on the distribution rate to donors as well as other sections of the society.

As to WHO, the level of the distribution of the virus is considered to be an epidemic when it reaches 1%. However, the prevalence rate of the virus in Ethiopia is 0.9, according to a study conducted by Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey in 2016.

“In addition to the high cost of the research demands, conflict and other related issues in the country have adversely hindered the process to be completed as per the schedule. The prevalence rate will be announced next year.”

Indicating the alarming rate of spread of the virus in the country, he said, “To date, about 610,000 people in Ethiopia are living with the virus, among this some 463,000 people are taking medication, excluding those reside in Tigray State.”

“Among 11,000 people who die of the virus every year, 8,300 people are newly infected. Here, the age ranges from 15 to 24 with a higher prevalence rate with the domination of women,” he said. He emphasized that a lot is expected and great effort should be exerted to permanently mitigate the widespread of the virus.

Similarly, sex workers, drug users, prisoners and the youth, daily laborers, long distance drivers among others are highly vulnerable to the virus and hence the highest prevalence is shown in 265 Woredas. So far, the government, media and religious institutions have been staging various platforms aimed at creating awareness and educating the general public to minimize the rate of the prevalence of the virus.

BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT

 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 28 JULY 2023

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