HIV infections in Panama stabilized says UN report
(newsroompanama.com) Panama is one of at least 56 countries where rates of new HIV infections have stabilized or declined says a new report by the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The report,released Tuesday (November 23), shows that the AIDS epidemic is beginning to change course as the number of people newly infected with HIV is declining and AIDS-related deaths are decreasing. Together, this is contributing to the stabilization of the total number of people living with HIV in the world.
Data from the 2010 report on the global AIDS epidemic shows that an estimated 2.6 million [ people became newly infected with HIV, nearly 20% fewer than the 3.1 million] people infected in 1999.
In 2009, 1.8 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses, nearly one-fifth lower than the 2.1 million people who died in 2004.
At the end of 2009, 33.3 million people were estimated to be living with HIV, up slightly from 32.8 million1 in 2008. This is in large part due to more people living longer as access to antiretroviral therapy increases.
“We are breaking the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic with bold actions and smart choices,” said Mr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Investments in the AIDS response are paying off, but gains are fragile—the challenge now is how we can all work to accelerate progress.
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Original Source: Newsroompanama.com
Date Retrieved: November 23, 2010.
