Health Protection Agency HPA says a total of 15 Maldivians have lost their lives to AIDS.
In a statement released on the occasion of International AIDS day, HPA said that HIV was first detected in 1991. The Agency said that since the initial detection a total of 39 people have tested positive for the chronic disease.
The Agency said that this includes 6 women and 33 men.
HPA further said that a total of 15 people have succumbed to the much-stigmatized disease in the Maldives.
It also said that 22 individuals are currently under treatment for HIV.
The Agency said that HIV Screening is currently available in all the hospitals in the country. It said that once the initial test comes back positive for the disease, the individual can do the confirmatory tests from IGMH via the National Aids program.
HPA said that in the Maldives anti-retro Viral therapy (ART) is given as a treatment for HIV and that the treatment is being given to the patients free of charge since 2004.
