Scientists: HIV epidemic threatening Madagascar
Madagascar may soon face an explosion in the incidence of HIV, similar to what it was in southern Africa, TASS reports with reference to the data of specialists from the UN mission on the Red Island
Jude Padayachy, UNAIDS Country Director for Madagascar, quoted by RFI radio station, warned, “If decisive measures are not taken, Madagascar will soon face an explosion in the incidence of HIV, as it was about 25 years ago in South Africa, Tanzania or Botswana."
According to infectious disease specialists, the number of people infected with HIV in the country will reach 76 thousand by late 2024, but more alarming forecasts assume that this figure will be twice as high.
Recent surveys have shown that 1.33 percent of 1.3 thousand students at the University of Toamasina are infected. At the University of Mahajanga, this figure stands at 1.4 percent. Ten percent of all pregnant women in the city of Ambanja suffer from this disease.
Scientists attribute the current surge in HIV incidence to the spread of intravenous drugs: heroin and new synthetic drugs.
