Ninety-nine new AIDS cases for first quarter this year -- GUM clinic report
by Alim Hassim
A recent AIDS surveillance report has shown that a total of 99 new AIDS cases have been reported for the first quarter of this year, 34 of which are young people between the ages of five and 29 years. "Thirty-four out of 99 cases indicates that over one-third of these persons with AIDS are young people," the report said. The figures, according to the report which originates from the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic of the Georgetown Hospital, do not represent the total picture of AIDS affecting young people in Guyana. In fact, there may be many more cases that have not been reported, it said. According to the statistics provided, a total of 24 females between the ages of five and 29 have been reported with AIDS and that compares with a total of ten males within that age group. Between ages five and 14, there was one reported case; between 15 and 19, five; between 20 and 24, six; and between 25 and 29, there were 22 reported cases, 18 of which were females and four males. The statistics have shown clearly that the rate is higher among the female population. According to the report, these figures do not represent Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) cases, only full blown AIDS. At the end of 1998, figures from the GUM clinic show that there was a total of 1,234 AIDS (not HIV) cases. "Consider the impact of AIDS on the productive sector of our country; many people may have been infected during their teenage years and develop AIDS during their 20s and 30s," the report said. "This is detrimental to the development of our human resources, economic growth and progress of our country." As a means of advice, the report points out that early voluntary testing is a proactive approach and is advantageous, as it will speed up knowledge, acceptance and openness about HIV/AIDS. The report also states that those who are found to be negative are much more likely to accept advice on how to remain HIV negative and to act upon it. In addition, those who are found to be positive at an early stage of this infection have a much better chance of adopting healthier lifestyles including safer sexual behaviour, which would enhance the quality of their lives. According to a recent United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Discussion Document, UNAIDS has estimated that every minute of every day five young women and men become newly infected with HIV. The document says worldwide, nearly half of all new HIV infections today are among young people aged ten to 25 years, and in the worst affected countries the proportion is even greater, exceeding 60 per cent in some places. According to the latest annual World Health Report HIV/AIDS is now the number one overall cause of death in some countries and has moved up to fourth place among all causes of death worldwide. 
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