STATISTICS SHOW 11,000 HIV REPORTED CASES IN A YEAR: DR NANO

CAPTION: Dr Nano Dideon, National STI/HIV program manager

STATISTICS have shown 11,000 HIV cases are reported every year for the past 3 years.

This is from HIV reactive patients from ages 15 to 30 years, of which 60 percent are females, and the other 40 percent are males.

This indicates that 30 cases are reported per year, out of which 7 are children.

With the rollout of new HIV Self-test Kits, there has been positive response from the public to test their status.

Dr Nano Dideon, National STI/HIV program manager revealed this today in his discussion on the Nasfund Talkback Show on the New HIV Oral Self-Test Kit roll out.

Dr Nano said there are over 65,000 HIV patients currently on the Anti retro viral drug or ART, and are doing well.

“HIV is not a deadly decease, it is manageable condition, and people need to understand this and come forward for testing,” Dr Nano explained.

Dr Nano when elaborating on the HIV Self-Test Kit, says the test is highly sensitive and can pickup minute strain of the virus. The test is 5minutes prepartion and will last another 20 minutes to get the result.

“It is 99 percent sensitive and the demonstration in Port Moresby has indicated good result. The kit is widely used countries around the world,” Dr Nano said.

Dr Nano said that the intention of the Self-test kit is to give confidence to the patients who are reactive to make proper decision to get service.