Headlines:
| Deaths from sexually transmitted diseases declining |
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| Friday, 21 March 2008 | |
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Chief of Epidemiology in the Health Ministry, Dr. Peter
Figueroa said the death rate from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) has
been declining although the prevalence of the infections continues to rise. He linked the decline to the success of the Ministry's National AIDS/STI programme. Dr. Figueroa said it was estimated that there are 27,000 people living with HIV in Jamaica. Twelve thousand are not aware that they are living with the virus. Dr. Figueroa said mother to child transmission had been reduced due to the effectiveness of treatment programmes. He added that despite having nearly 4,000 people on treatment and 100 new persons being added monthly, the programme needed to be strengthened. |