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Latest HIV statistics not encouraging
The statistics on HIV and
AIDS for the second quarter of 2007 have been
released and they do not make for happy reading. According to the
report issued by the Ministry of Health there were one hundred and
thirty-seven new cases of HIV infection recorded from April through
June. This compares to seventy in the same time period in 2006 and
ninety-three for the previous quarter, January through March. It’s a
big jump, the kind of increase usually explained by a corresponding
rise in the number of people tested. Such was not the case this time
however, as although the number of people tested rose by nineteen
percent from last year, the number of positives increased by ninety-six
percent. The same trend was demonstrated in the testing of pregnant
women. In that more random sample of almost two thousand mothers-to-be,
the prevalence rate more than doubled from 2006 to 2007 from point five
percent to over one percent. Officials with the National AIDS Programme
caution that statistics need to be analyzed over the long term and
quarterly results can be misleading. In the absence of a convincing
explanation, however, the latest numbers suggest that no matter how
loud the anti AIDS message, Belizeans may not be getting it. Read More
AIDS
medication works ...
but only if taken properly  Another side of the HIV equation, that of
treatment for those
infected also has its downside. It seems that while antiretroviral
medication is available, it is not necessarily being used properly.Dr. Pedro Arriaga, Internist K.H.M.H. We try to be as realistic as possible, we were not expecting hundred percent improvement. Some of the patients they still with this kind of condition, because it is a serious disease, will die even if we try to use medications. But you see patients coming to the hospital getting the medication, they stop taking the medication even though the medication is free of cost, even the blood test is free of cost, they stop taking medication and when they come and see the doctor, they are in a different type of condition. You feel so good when a patient is getting better, taking medications but you start feeling so frustrated when the patient that was doing so well, stop taking medication and starts going back to the bad conditions they had before.” Read More Britain pledges US$1m for
Dean-hit islands British
officials announced yesterday that they would send US$1 million to help
several Caribbean islands recover from Hurricane Dean, which lashed the
region last month.
The money will go to Jamaica, Haiti, Belize, St. Lucia and Dominica to finance temporary shelters and improve sanitation, according to the British High Commission in Guyana. which has several Caribbean territories, has pledged similar aid, including US$5.5 million to Martinique. Two British warships will remain in the Caribbean until November, the end of the hurricane season. Dean killed at least 20 people in the Caribbean and caused millions of dollars in damage. Read More NOTICES/LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
This
hurricane season, the people of San Pedro have had two big challenges
so
far. Hurricanes Dean and Felix were
very unexpected so early in the season and were certainly a significant
threat
to Ambergris Caye.
The Management of Consolidated Water Belize Limited (CW Belize) would like to firstly thank its dedicated staff for ensuring that well over a million gallons of clean drinking water were kept available, in reserve tanks, ready for distribution in the event of a hurricane related emergency. CW Belize is proud of the way in which NEMO, San Pedro Town Council and the other essential service providers were able to cooperate so effectively and minimize the impact of inconvenience caused by these hurricanes. We would particularly like to thank Mr. James Jan Mohammed for his calm and capable leadership during the stressful periods both leading up to the hurricanes and in their aftermath. The Government of Belize, The San Pedro Emergency Committee and Belize Water Services Limited worked closely with us and we are grateful for their support and hard work. We, as a community, have a lot to be thankful for following these two very close calls. Please rest assured that CW Belize, as the sole provider of clean drinking water for Ambergris Caye, remains committed to maintaining the highest level of service to all of the residents and businesses on our beautiful little Caye whatever challenges face us. Sincerely, Wade Van Doren General Manager , CW Belize #####
Ambergris Caye
Chamber of Commerce Meeting will
be held today, Thursday, Sept. 13at 12 Noon at the Blue Water Grill. THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere |
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