Onslaught of AIDS

Higher infection rate among women

HIV/AIDS infections have been increasing steadily each year, but moreso among women than men, Minister of Health, John Junor, told the House of Representatives yesterday.

According to the Ministry of Health's Annual Report, which was also tabled yesterday by Mr. Junor, the first reported case of AIDS in Jamaica was in 1982 in a male client. The first case in a female was not reported until 1986. However, the rate of HIV infection in women has been outpacing men over the last three years to the extent that the 1999 figures showed a cumulative total of AIDS cases of 4,196 cases, of which 37.8 per cent were women.

The report said that of major concern was the number of paediatric (children) AIDS cases - approximately 8 per cent of all reported cases. The first case was reported in 1986, but the 70 reported last year brought the cumulative total to 331, of which 52 per cent were girls and 48 per cent boys.

Mr. Junor said that for every 1,000 pregnant women in Jamaica, 15 were infected with HIV.

The Minister also told the House that:

Every week in Jamaica two HIV-infected children are born;

The increase in the number of reported children with AIDS indicated the increase in the number of HIV infections in women of child-bearing age;

The number of reported new HIV infection in adolescents has been doubling each year since 1995;

HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the second leading cause of death for both men and women in the age group 30-34;

And, an estimated 150 or more children under the age of 15 were orphaned by the loss of one or both parents in 1999 alone.

The report said that it would cost the Government approximately $12 million to treat 100 infants with the disease.

It also said that of the 4,196 cases that have been reported since 1982, 2,515 have died, yielding a case fatality rate of 60 per cent and of the total deaths, 191 (7.6 per cent) have been children under the age of 10.

"I cite these few facts and figures to make the point that I have made before. HIV/AIDS is not merely a health problem for the Ministry of Health, it is a problem for our society and for all Jamaicans," Mr. Junor said.

He called for a concerted effort from the private sector, the church, community groups, government ministries and governmental organisations as well as from "every single Jamaican" to fight the disease.

He said that in the months ahead, the Ministry would take steps to strengthen the broad-based coalition to help fight the "onslaught" of HIV/AIDS.