The number of new HIV diagnoses remains stable, with at least 27 cases expected to be reported in 2024.

According to data provided by the provincial government on the occasion World AIDS Daywhich is celebrated this time Sunday, December 1.

The Ministry of Health insists on prevention, early detection and promotion of emotional sex education. to prevent HIV infection since early diagnosis benefits the affected person, since early treatment improves his prognosis and quality of life, as well as public health, as it allows breaking the chain of transmission of infection.

Therefore, to improve early detection Department and Official College of Pharmacists of Navarre A year ago they launched a program to implement rapid tests in pharmacies to those who ask for it.

The initiative formulated in Plan for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other STIs government of Navarre and which began with 12 pharmacy offices, “has been consolidated and expanded” and is currently This service is offered by 50 pharmacies.so that any citizen can have access to a rapid HIV test that costs 5 euros.

Since launch 134 tests were carried out. 2 positive results were detected in pharmacy offices.

The Ministry of Health reminds that in addition to the pharmacies attached to this project, an HIV test can be requested if there have been contacts at risk in health centers, in CASHIER (Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health), in. Emergency Services and in Sare Association and Citizens’ Commission to Combat AIDS.

Coordinator for HIV and STIs in Navarre, Ayziber Echeverríabelieves that in order to achieve goals UNAIDS by 2030 “we must think globally in order to act locally, and in this sense The strategy implemented in Navarre is producing good results.“.

According to the latest data published by ISPLN, for the five-year period 2019-2023. 185 cases of infection have been recorded.The main mechanism of transmission is risky sexual contact between men, which accounts for 53% of cases, followed by risky heterosexual practices (42%) and the use of non-sterile materials for drug injection (2%). The mean age at diagnosis was 38.6 years with a range of 4 to 78 years.

The vast majority of HIV diagnoses were made to men. (83%), of which homosexual transmission predominated (64%), followed by heterosexual practices (31%) and cases involving the sharing of drug injection materials (2%). Heterosexual transmission was the cause of all cases in women.except one with vertical transmission.

Cases of simultaneous diagnosis of HIV and AIDS they stay high: 27 (15% of the total) for the above five-year period. 18.5% were among men reporting homosexual practices, 25.9% among heterosexual women, and 44.4% among heterosexual men.

Of the 7 AIDS cases diagnosed in 2023, 6 people did not know they were infected until they developed AIDS-defining illnesses.. During the period 2019-2023. 64 deaths people who had the virus, 11 of them last year.

As morbidity persists and survival improves, The number of people living with HIV continues to rise to reach 1,281 people at the end of 2023 (71% men). There are an estimated 100-140 undetected infections.