‘There’s help for HIV and AIDS patients’

Of the nine individuals in the CNMI with HIV infections, three have progressed to AIDS cases, based on reported data from health authorities who want to hammer the message that more people should get tested and there is help available to patients.

Every month, 130 to 160 people in the CNMI undergo HIV/AIDS testing but most of them are pregnant women who are always offered the test to avoid transmission to their babies if they are infected. Were it up to the Department of Public Health’s HIV/STD Program, they would like to have more individuals get tested.

“It’s very important to get tested so that if people know they are infected, they can get help…There’s help available,” John Moreno, manager of DPH’s HIV/STD Program, told Saipan Tribune on Capital Hill.

Moreno was among DPH officials, staff, and other community members who joined acting governor Eloy S. Inos yesterday morning in signing a proclamation declaring December 2011 World AIDS Awareness Month.

Moreno said on average, there are 90 to 100 pregnant women who consent to HIV/AIDS testing, another 30 patients from the Family Planning Unit, and another 30 people who go to the HIV/STD Program.

Roxanne Diaz and Moreno said during the proclamation signing that there are currently nine “reported” individuals in the CNMI who are infected with HIV, and three of them have progressed to AIDS. They said there’s no change in the reportable number in recent period.

Moreno, in a later interview, said all these nine individuals are adults. He said in past years, there were transmissions to infants but these infants didn’t live long.

Inos, during the proclamation signing, also said he hopes more people will get tested. He said maybe if people know that there’s another test that does not involve drawing of the blood, then more people could submit to testing.

Moreno said while people can choose to be tested through drawing of blood, there’s also another test that involves swabbing the mouth and collecting some cells. In the first method, the blood sample will be sent to Hawaii and takes two weeks for the result to come back in. The second one takes some 20 minutes to get the results.

This year’s theme for World AIDS Awareness Month—“Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths”—recognizes the continued commitment needed by governments and policy makers worldwide to combat HIV and AIDS.

During the group photo, Inos, health personnel and others formed the shape of a “zero” with their hands to hammer home the “zero” goal. Also present at the proclamation signing were Dr. Daniel Lamar, medical director for public health, and Dr. Chad Lowe, physician at the Commonwealth Health Center.

Health officials said HIV and AIDS continue to be a health concern in the CNMI, but the community has the ability to keep the numbers of HIV infections low.

“In recognition that the fight against HIV and AIDS will be won by effective HIV infection prevention and scientific research to find a cure, the people of the Commonwealth are encouraged to protect them and their loved ones, get tested, and stay informed and educated about the risks of HIV transmission,” Inos said in his proclamation.