News staff

Six people in Bermuda were diagnosed with HIV last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Seniors.

As the island marks HIV Awareness Month, residents are being urged to get tested and know their status.

“HIV Awareness Month reminds us to think about HIV/Aids,” Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health and Seniors, stated. “Testing is available, treatment is available, and treatment works.”

It is estimated there are 304 people living with HIV in Bermuda and fewer than ten new HIV infections have been reported each year since 2004.

The six people in Bermuda diagnosed with HIV last year all reported sexual contact as their risk.

Given the preventable nature of HIV and advances in HIV care, the Ministry believes that a generation free of HIV is possible and encourages all people to get tested.

It noted in a statement that the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation recommend that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once.

Those likely to be at increased risk of HIV should get tested more often, at least annually, depending on their risk level.

With June 27 marking HIV Testing Day, free and confidential testing will be available at the Communicable Disease Control Clinic at the Hamilton Health Centre, as well as private physicians.

Ms Atherden added that public health nurses within the Communicable Disease Control Clinic offer health education and provide care and counselling to persons living with HIV.

“The charity Supportive Therapy for Aids persons and their relatives continues to provide education, counselling, housing and support for Bermudian families that have been affected by HIV/Aids.”

The Ministry also noted that the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids had set an ambitious target to help end the global Aids epidemic.

By 2020, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Viral suppression, or having low levels of virus in the body, reduces the risk of transmission to others.

• For HIV/Aids Report 2016, see www.gov.bm/health-data-and-monitoring under Data Dashboard.