Costa Rica Claims
Success in Combating
AIDS
Today, December 1, is
Worlds Aids Day,
dedicated to raising
awareness of the AIDS
pandemic caused by the
spread of HIV infection.
AIDS has killed more
than 25 million people,
with an estimated 38.6
million people living
with HIV, making it one
of the most destructive
epidemics in recorded
history.
Despite recent, improved
access to antiretroviral
treatment and care in
many regions of the
world, the AIDS epidemic
claimed an estimated 3.1
million (between 2.8 and
3.6 million) lives in
2005 of which, more than
half a million (570,000)
were children.
To prevent the spreads
of Aids in Costa Rica,
the Caja Costarricense
del Seguro Social (CCSS)
offered free Aids
testing at the Calderón
Guardia hospital until
2:00pm yesterday to
anyone who came to the
temporary clinic set up
outside the hospital's
main doors.
A 75 year old man was
one of the many who
turned up for the free
testing. "Despite my age
it is best to have the
facts in hand, you never
know", said Alvaro
González, who was one of
the first in line
yesterday morning.
"There has been a
reduction in the
mortality rate of
patients with Aids,
which is a main
indicator of our
success", said Gloria
Terwes of the Unidad De
Sida at the CCSS.
The CCSS officials said
that for every 100
persons who are infected
with the virus, 15 or
less die, while some 12
years ago the mortality
rate was 90%.
According to Terwes, the
CCSS also has been
successful in reducing
mothers infecting their
infants by early
detection, reducing the
the probability of an
infant born with the
virus from 50% to 2% or
less.
The CCSS says it keeps a
control of some 5.000
people who are carriers
of the virus of some
15.000 that are believed
to be infected with Aids
in Costa Rica.
Today, the Cruz Roja
(Red Cross) will hold a
fair on the importance
of prevention. The
activity held in
downtown San José will
include the
participation of
national artists, sports
figures, models and
other personalities.
The Cruz Roja is aiming
to reach youths to bring
their attention to
foster values consistent
with preserving health
as Aids has no social,
economic or ethnical
boundaries.
According to CCSS
figures, for every four
men to one woman are
infected with the virus
in Costa Rica.
The concept of a World
AIDS Day originated at
the 1988 World Summit of
Ministers of Health on
Programmes for AIDS
Prevention. Since then,
it has been taken up by
governments,
international
organizations and
charities around the
world. |
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