23 HIV cases reported in NMI, 39.4M worldwide

A total of 23 HIV cases were reported in the CNMI as of 2003, while a new report indicates that an estimated 39.4 million people worldwide are now infected with the disease. The global number increased by over 7 percent compared with the estimated numbers in 2002, which had about 36.6 million people.

It is against this sobering backdrop that Gov. Juan N. Babauta declared December as CNMI HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. Today is also World AIDS Day, with its theme “Women, Girls, HIV, and AIDS.” The day is set aside for celebration of the “progress made in the battle against the epidemic, and brings into focus the remaining challenges.”

“I urge all citizens to take part in activities and observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS as a global challenge, to take part in HIV/AIDS prevention activities and programs, and to join the global effort to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS,” Babauta said in the proclamation.

According to a fact sheet provided by the Department of Public Health, women are more physically susceptible to HIV infection than men. Studies show that women can be 2.5 times more likely to be HIV-infected as their male counterparts.

“Male-to-female HIV transmission during sex is about twice as likely to occur as female-to-male transmission,” the sheet indicated. “Young women are three times more vulnerable to HIV infection than their male counterparts.”

Edward Diaz, who heads the campaign, stressed the importance of public awareness on the disease.

“HIV is a very preventable disease, so the more we heighten awareness to the public, the better they can protect themselves,” he said. “The more information and knowledge, the more power.”

Diaz said various activities focusing on educational campaigns would take place this month, including screening, a walk-a-thon, and presentations in settings that request for them. The plans, however, are still being finalized and would be announced once confirmed.

“DPH will continue its effort to find additional resources to provide continual care for people living with HIV/AIDS,” the proclamation read. “DPH, in collaboration with other agencies, will continue their work in prevention and education awareness to stop the spread of HIV in the CNMI.”

According to DPH, six clients with HIV—three males and three females between the ages of 20-40—are currently being served by the CHC’s HIV/STD Program. The rest of the 23 cases have either died or moved away.

Over the past two years, the steepest increases in HIV infections occurred in east Asia, eastern Europe, and central Asia.

In the United States, up to 950,000 Americans are estimated to have HIV, with about 40,000 new infections every year.

So far, about 20 million people worldwide have succumbed to AIDS since the first cases were diagnosed in 1981, including 2.9 million in 2003.