Mauritius launches new HIV/AIDS screening caravan
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritius on Wednesday launched a new health caravan specialised in HIV/AIDS screening in Grand River North West, a suburb of Port-Louis, in a bid to offer better services to the community and also to raise awareness, especially among the youth, on the disease.
According to Health and Wellness Minister, Kailesh Jagutpal, this new health caravan is part of a project that dates back to 2011.
“The health caravans have enabled the screening of more than 34,000 persons around the island as well as the detection of some 40 positive HIV/AIDS positive cases,” he said, adding that it will be used to carry out screening all around Mauritius. It will also offer syphilis and Hepatitis C screening facilities.
Mr Jagutpal said that there are currently some 11,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the island. “They are receiving treatment at local hospitals so as to improve their quality of life,” he said.
-0- PANA NA/MA 3June2021
