Rabat, 3 Apr (EFE).-Morocco presents a “low level” of carriers of the HIV virus, with 6.453 diagnosed cases across the country from 1986 until the end of December 2011; i.e. 0.15 per cent of their inhabitants, today reported the Ministry of health.
The data, which were released today on the occasion of the presentation in Rabat of the Plan of the national strategy to combat AIDS 2012-2016 indicate that among the 6.453 cases, 4.169 have AIDS and 2,284 are carriers of HIV.
Regions of the Souss-Massa-Drâa, Marrakesh and Casablanca concentrated 58 per cent of the reported cases, and 78 per cent are in urban areas.
In addition, 71% are people aged between 25 and 44 years and 2% of young people under the age of 15 years, while the proportion of women is almost 50%.
Also, the primary mode of transmission of the disease are heterosexual sex, with 85% of declared cases.
However, while the diagnosed cases are 6.453, the Moroccan Ministry of health and UNAIDS estimated that until the end of 2011 in Morocco had 29,000 people affected by the virus, and among these 10,000 needed retroviral treatment.
El Plan Nacional to combat AIDS 2012-2106 aims to reduce mortality from AIDS in 2016 60% and 50% of new HIV infections.
810 Million dirhams (around EUR 72 million) will be invested to do so, during these five years, and 46% will be from the State budget, 41 per cent of the Global Fund programme and 13 per cent of national sources of support from United Nations and bilateral cooperation. EFE
