Africa-Press – Angola. The director of the National Institute for the Fight against HIV/AIDS (INLS), Lúcia Furtado, reported on Monday (15) in Luanda that approximately 370,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Angola.
In statements to the press, at the end of Vice-President Esperança da Costa’s visit to the INLS, the director clarified that the prevalence rate of the disease in the country is 1.6%, which represents a reduction compared to 2015, when the rate was 2%.
Lúcia Furtado stated that, in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, Angola is among the countries that invest the most in the response to HIV, with about 85% of the funding allocated to the sector, most of which is channeled towards treatment.
According to the INLS director, the response to HIV is multi-sectoral and involves the National Commission for the Fight against AIDS and Major Endemic Diseases, in which each sector assumes specific responsibilities.
She emphasized that scientific evidence proves that proper treatment allows for undetectable viral load, preventing virus transmission.
She also informed that the World Health Organization recently launched the injectable drug Lenacapavir, initially produced by a single American pharmaceutical company, with an estimated annual cost of $40,000 per person for two annual injections.
She added that, after negotiations conducted by the United Nations, the patent was relaxed and, during a summit held in New York, an agreement was reached that reduced the cost of treatment to approximately $40 per person.
According to Lúcia Furtado, INLS prioritizes prevention and plans to begin using the new drug among the most vulnerable populations. She indicated that the most affected age groups in Angola include young people aged 15 to 24 and the adult population.
The director reported that, of the approximately 370,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, 71% know their serological status. She further specified that 51% of infected individuals are aware of their diagnosis and that the national coverage of viral load tests remains below 50%.
She mentioned that, according to UNAIDS, countries with coverage below 50% do not carry out certain surveys, but clarified that Angola has been conducting regular tests and registers a viral suppression rate of 85%, with the goal of reaching 95%.
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