Cote d’Ivoire To Launch First Nationwide HIV Prevalence Survey in 15 Years
Cote d'Ivoire's Ministry to Fight AIDS in November plans to launch its first nationwide HIV prevalence survey in 15 years, Mamadou Diallo, head of UNAIDS in Cote d'Ivoire, said on Tuesday, U.N. IRIN/AllAfrica.com reports. The ministry plans to spend six months surveying approximately 10,000 homes throughout government- and rebel-held areas of the country. Survey results then would be used to help create a better government strategy to help people in the country living with HIV/AIDS. According to data from the country's first comprehensive HIV survey in 1989, approximately 9.5% of the population is HIV-positive, the highest prevalence rate in West Africa. However, many health care workers believe that the HIV prevalence in the country currently is much higher. Diallo said that the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria would cover the cost of antiretroviral drugs for survey participants who are found to be HIV-positive, according to U.N. IRIN/AllAfrica.com. However, no HIV testing centers or health support structures exist to supply antiretroviral drugs in the rebel-controlled northern area of Cote d'Ivoire, which contains about four million of the country's 16 million people (U.N. IRIN/AllAfrica.com, 9/14).
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