Government is worried with the low percentage of young people living with HIV/AIDS that are on the Anti-retroViral Treatment.
Secretary for Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the Office of President and Cabinet, Edith Mkawa expressed this just a week before the commemoration of World Aids Day next week on December 1.
According to World Health Organization, only 36 percent of young people in the country are on antiretroviral treatment.
Mkawa said government and other stakeholders are working together to make sure the number increases.
”Government is aware of that and with other stakeholders we are working hand in hand to make sure that many young people who are living with HIV/AIDS are accessing antiretroviral treatment”. Mrs Mkawa said.
On the same development, World Health Organisation Country representative, Eugene Nyarko said the problem can only be solved if young people are given enough information about HIV and AIDS.
Nyarko said this will help the youths to make informed decisions and go for HIV testing to know their status.
”Young people must be empowered with messages about the pandemic for them to make informed decisions. Once they are instilled with the information they can go for testing and map their way forward”. Nyarko commented.
He said this can make young people to start the anteretroviral treatment to prolong their lives.
Despite recent improved access to Antiretroviral treatment in many regions of the world, the AIDS pandemic claims an estimated 2 Million lives each year, of which 270, 000 are young people.
