KABUL (SW) – The number of patients affected by “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (HIV) has been decreased in the Afghanistan, said officials of the Ministry of Public Health.
A meeting was held on Sunday, December 3, on the occasion of “World AIDS/HIV Day” in Kabul.
In 1998, the World Health Organization named December 1 as “World AIDS Day”, and from this day, it is celebrated every year in order to raise funds and awareness also fight against discrimination against people with this disease; In Afghanistan, however, this day has been celebrated late.
Mohammad Eshaq Sahibzadah, Finance and Administrative Deputy of the Ministry of Public Health, said in this meeting: “HIV has decreased in the country. We ask the international institutions to cooperate with the health sector and this ministry is trying to eradicate HIV in the country.”
Officials of the Ministry of Public Health add that 183 positive cases of HIV have been registered in the Afghanistan in 2023, which shows the reduction of this disease compared to previous years.
Mohammad Dawood Mansouri, the head of foreign relations of the Ministry of Public Health, says that there are currently 12,000 HIV patients in the country, of which 11,162 are under treatment.
“The prevalence of HIV has decreased in Afghanistan, and 0.1 percent of Afghan citizens are infected with AIDS, and according to the statistics of the World Health Organization, 12,000 people have been infected with AIDS in the country.” He added.
Meanwhile, Abdulshah Anwari, one of the citizens who is suffering from HIV, asks others to take the health consultations seriously.
“We ask people to keep their distance from others and observe hygiene measures and keep themselves away from the disease.”
However, some of the doctors say that this disease is transmitted through sex, the patient’s blood or equipment contaminated with the patient’s blood, as well as from mother to child.
Regarding the prevention of this disease, they add: Most people and drug addicts use needles in their bodies and should reduce the joint use of needles, people who have HIV should be diagnosed and treated in time, and this can prevent its spread.
According to the World Health Organization, 17,000 people around the world are infected with HIV every day, and most of them die without knowing that they have the disease.
ENDS
