by Emily Lambrou
Nicosia (CNA) – Despite the fact that Cyprus has managed to maintain very low levels of HIV/AIDS cases, the Health Services have nevertheless cautioned against complacency, in the light of figures, which indicate a slight rise in HIV cases, mainly due to the arrival of foreigners and the repatriation of Cypriots.
The Government has also expressed concern, since factors such as the opening of crossing points between the two communities on the island and the movement to the government-controlled areas of the Republic could reverse the current positive picture.
According to unofficial data of the Ministry of Health, there has been a significant rise in sexually spread infections in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic.
Today, there are 332 persons with HIV living in Cyprus, of which 278 are Cypriots and 54 foreigners. A total of 560 cases have been diagnosed since 1986, of which 294 concerned Cypriots and 266 foreigners.
According to figures, for the period from 1986 to October 2007, among the 332 permanent residents, that is Cypriots and foreigners, who have been infected, 266 are men and 66 women, giving a ration of four men to one woman. The ratio among Cypriot permanent residents is six men to one woman, and among the foreigners who are permanent residents, the ratio is one man to one woman.
Head of the National AIDS Programme Laura Papantoniou told CNA that ”70% of diagnosed cases belong to the 20 to 39 age group, while 8% of diagnosed cases belong to the 40 to 44 age group.”
Regarding the ways of transmitting the virus among permanent residents, Papantoniou said ”46.4% were infected through heterosexual intercourse, 46.1% were infected through homosexual intercourse between men” and lower percentages in other ways, such as contact with contaminated blood and drug use.
Papantoniou noted that the annual frequency of HIV/AIDS cases was 25 cases from 1986 to 2006, of which 15 were permanent residents and 10 residents abroad.
Since 2005, there has been an increase in the annual frequency of new cases, due mainly to the arrival of foreigners who remained in Cyprus and became permanent residents, as well as the repatriation of Cypriots.
Minister of Health Costas Kadis told CNA that Cyprus, compared to other EU countries, has low levels of cases, noting that this did not permit complacency.
”The situation at the moment is under control, but with other elements in mind, concerning the use of drugs, the increased presence of immigrants in Cyprus, we must be rather concerned and ready to tackle every possibility of the spreading of the virus and the expansion of its presence in Cyprus,” he said.
Regarding the recent increase, Kadis said that ”because at the moment there is a slight increase, we must be very careful,” adding that the disease was spreading in Europe, there was a higher rate of drug users and a large movement of population, both from other countries and the Turkish occupied areas.
Taking into consideration the current situation internationally and in Cyprus, the Government is examining and implementing action plans at regular intervals to tackle AIDS on the island.
Kadis said the Ministry of Health was implementing a specific strategy since 2006 to combat AIDS and assured that the Government was closely and constantly monitoring the situation.
Referring to the aims of the Government’s strategic plan, Kadis mentioned the prevention of HIV infection through sexual intercourse, the use of drugs, the transmission of the disease to the fetus, and through blood and its derivatives, the provision of care based on international standards concerning advice, therapy and laboratory examinations, the restriction of the personal and social consequences of HIV infection, the protection of human rights and the strengthening of the operation and infrastructure of the programme.
Papantoniou noted that the proposed action of the Ministry of Health is the continuation of providing care free of charge, an informative leaflet regarding HIV tests, counseling and referrals to health officers of the state and private sector, lectures to hospital staff for the general care of persons with HIV infections aiming at avoiding discrimination and implementing general measures against infection.
She furthermore expressed her concern regarding the rise in the number of immigrants who are HIV carriers, noting however that the Ministry of Health services were not against immigration but that it was a matter that would demand consideration in the future regarding the provision of anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
Furthermore, Papantoniou said a study carried out by the Ministry of Health during the first quarter of 2007 has been completed on the knowledge, notions and behaviour regarding AIDS and sex on a pancyprian basis.
The aim of the study was to collect evidence regarding the risk factors concerning AIDS infection, through the evaluation of the knowledge, notions and behaviour patters of Cypriot citizens around AIDS and sex.
The evidence will yield valuable information for the AIDS National Programme and will help towards further developing and preparing preventative programmes.
A total of 1,215 persons, men and women, took part in the research, which covered people aged 18 to 50, from 139 pre-selected communities. The results of the study will be announced soon.
In Europe and Central Asia, a total of 2.4 million people are suffering from HIV infection. Of these people, 760,000 are EU citizens.
In 2006, over 87,000 new HIV cases were diagnosed in the 53 countries of the European sector of the World Health Organisation, while the total number of adults and children suffering from HIV in Europe has almost doubled over the past six years.
