Hamlet Tandi*
4 September 2008
Statistics drawn from the just-ended Free HIV/AIDS Holiday Campaign in the Southwest Province indicates that more women are infected by the HIV virus than men.
The campaign that ran for three weeks, which was aimed at educating and screening about 2000 locals, also indicates an imminent rate of 3.8 percent amongst those diagnosed with the virus.
According to the Provincial Coordinator of Provincial Technical Group for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, PTG, Dr. Pascal Nji Atanga, 1,912 people were tested making an accomplishment of 98 percent.
Those tested HIV-positives are to start free treatment, Atanga said, with drilling sessions carried out by the nurses who personally conducted the campaign."They are encouraged to come to the Treatment Centres at the PTG, were they would follow a treatment programme set up for them at no cost," he said.
Statistics show that a total of 1,112 men turned out as compared to 700 women. Many people, Atanga said, do not yet know their HIV status.With 73 people tested positive - 27 males and 46 females - 2.4 percent represented prevalence for men and 6.3 percent for women.
The implication, Dr. Atanga said, is that not only fewer people turned out, but there are more women infected with the virus.Nonetheless, he said it is not a representation of the entire population of the province.
Within the age group of 15 - 29, four out of 710 men and 28 out of 503 women were HIV-positive. This gives 0.6 percent for men as to 5.6 percent for women.A study undertaken on the peak infected age groups - women between 25 and 29 years of age have a 12 percent infection rate compared to that of men in that age bracket standing at two per cent. That for men in the age group of 45-49, is "far lower."
Atanga said men of these ages could have contracted the virus from any source, but for sex as they have been more exposed.This, to him, is also due to inter-generational sex, with girls courting men 20 years older than them.
The medic advises young women to abstain from sex, not only from older men but also from men in their age group."The young should abstain, if they can, or worse still, interact just with their peers," he said.
Appeals go to more women to turn out for screening during campaigns, especially those organised each year because their low turnout gives disheartening rates such as for every 100 men infected, 170 women are infected.
*(UB Journalism Student On Internship)
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