News 07/07/2002

10 HIV cases a year – the tip of an iceberg

By Marika Azzopardi

Between 1987 and 2001, each and every year, an average number of 10 persons have been diagnosed as being HIV positive in Malta. During the same period of time 51 persons were notified as suffering from AIDS and of these 46 died. Only one of these cases involved a foreign resident who died of the disease in 2000.

The Health Division has confirmed that HIV is not a statutory notifiable condition. Speaking to MaltaToday Roderick Bugeja, Health Promotion Officer who is also a Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor at the Health Promotion Unit said, "These figures are only the tip of an iceberg. However, HIV is a disease which, once diagnosed, should be notified to the medical authorities."

Although some Maltese persons’ cases might be notified following diagnosis, there are instances where people may opt to have medical tests done abroad. Other tests are done privately and although any of these might result positive, they may not even be reported. This all means that official statistics may not be showing the actual complete picture of the situation in Malta. Moreover, HIV is one of those diseases, which does not manifest itself upon contagion. So many people lead normal lives, and continue having multiple sexual relationships, without being aware of the real situation.

Summer is the time for fun, for travelling and very probable the right time to catch a disease. Sexual libido apparently rises with the temperatures, spreading the disease like wildfire. With the surge of holidaymakers travelling to and from the islands, HIV and AIDS are not the only diseases, which tend to be shared far and wide.

"STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are various and most are easily passed on. The Health Promotion Unit has taken the initiative to divulge as much information to youths, to guide them through their earliest experiences," the Health Promotion advisor told MaltaToday.

Roderick Bugeja has over the past months been working with students in the third, fourth and fifth years of senior school. "This project formed part of the Personal and Social Development Programme and we visited both government and private schools. Our aim is to provide vital information about the dangers threatening sexual health."

Addressing the younger generations is of especial urgency since adolescents fall within a high-risk category. "Sexually active adolescents are at a greater risk of acquiring STIs since their natural immunity is still not strong enough to cope with such infections," commented Mr Bugeja.

Therefore, as has happened in certain cities, like London in the late nineties, certain diseases can run rife. These include diseases such as herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, genital warts, scabies and others. "We insist especially against high alcohol intake especially popular during parties, as this tends to lower inhibitions and effects behaviour drastically," Mr Bugeja said.

The Genitourinary (GU) Clinic at Boffa Hospital screens many patients, who make enquiries there, initially for advice and eventually for testing. Persons requiring information or assistance do not need a medical referral to approach this clinic. Moreover, confidentiality is assured especially since patient files belonging to the GU Clinic are kept separate from other hospital files.

"The age of persons visiting this clinic varies and it is easier for the younger person to visit it since it is not necessary to have parents’ consent for testing. Even if an adolescent is diagnosed as suffering from an STI, unless he or she consents, the clinic is not obliged to inform parents," Mr Bugeja explained.

AIDS is increasingly raising its angry head on an international basis. This has urged various international sources to get together to fight this threat. The 14th International AIDS Conference will be held between today and 12 July in Barcelona, Spain. It is envisaged that it will attract up to 15,000 delegates from all over the world, including scientists and clinicians, healthcare workers, public health agencies, AIDS sufferers, politicians, NGOs and representatives of the media. The conference is organised by the International AIDS Society and the Fundacio Barcelona SIDA 2002. It is co-organised by the Joint United Nations Project for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS: the International Community for Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and Red 2002 (a Spanish based network of NGOs).