1.2 million people live with HIV in DRC

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - About 1.2 million people live with the HIV virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and only 40,000 or 10 to 15% of them receive anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, Dr. Dede Watchiba, Coordinator of the country's National Multi-sectoral Programme for the fight against AIDS (PNMLS), said here Wednesday on the occasion of the World AIDS Day.

He said in view of this development, the government needed to make commitments for an effective response against the epidemic.

Dr. Watchiba also called on the international and multi-sectoral organizations involved in the fight against AIDS to develop effective strategies, while taking into account the important needs for ARV treatment in the DRC for the period 2010-2015.

He called for the prevention of transmission, proper treatment of patients and support for those infected.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, more than 100,000 women die each year from HIV in the DRC and 30,000 children under 15, most of whom got their from mother-to child-transmission during pregnancy.
-0- PANA LAPS/JSG/JEN/VAO 2Dec2010