Over 400 individuals in Malta receiving HIV treatment

There are 453 individuals known to be living with the HIV virus, all of whom are receiving treatment, according to figures published by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).

According to the ECDC’s 2018 progress report on HIV care, Malta is one of the 13 countries that had achieved the UNAIDS target of having over 90% of people living with HIV receiving treatment.

The regional average in 2018 stood at 64%.

The number of people living with HIV who know their status was estimated was below the 80% regional average and below the 90% global target.

In a statement on Thursday, the Health Ministry noted that Malta surpassed the regional average of 86% for the number of people on whom treatment was working enough to reduce levels of the virus in the blood to a point where it is no longer possible for it to be transmitted to another person.

The report is based on four main criteria: the number of people diagnosed with HIV, the number of people who have been diagnosed, the number of people receiving treatment and the number of people on whom treatment has resulted in satisfactory results.

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