80% of Mexicans with HIV do not know

• April 27, 2024

The National Council for the Prevention and Control of AIDS (CENSIDA), through the technical secretary of the Censida, José Antonio Izazola, said that 84% of the 220 thousand people who live with HIV in Mexico, they ignore that they are infected with this virus. Of these, about a thousand of these are indigenous people who do not have access to health services, much less prevention methods such as condoms.

32% of the infected Mexican population with the virus does not exceed 25 years old . In these cases it has been established that the highest infection rate is between 15 and 18 years old . This phenomenon causes the index of mortality increase and, therefore, the expenses for the federal government are also considerably exceeded due to the costs of the drugs that should be provided to the sick.

To remedy a bit the lack of information, the Public Education Registry (SEP), reported that, in conjunction with the IMSS , campaigns will be implemented sex education in educational establishments, as well as distribution of condoms to students who request it.

The Health Secretary reported that during 2010 antiretrovirals were granted to 35 thousand 749 people , with a cost higher than a thousand 600 million pesos , and only 22 nonconformities were presented due to lack of medication at the time of presenting the prescription and in less than 72 hours they were granted, assured the technical secretary of the Censida, José Antonio Izazola. However, in 2015 the number of detected cases can exceed 70 thousand , so they will need to double the budget for treatments.

The official explained that with the prevention strategies to specific groups they benefited directly with informative talks to 8,130 men who have sex with men, 2 thousand 940 sex workers Y thousand 820 prisoners , who were also given more than 150,000 preventive supplies, such as condoms, brochures, posters or portfolios.

Source: Millennium (Valadez)