AIDS has not disappeared. Just because it is no longer a headline does not mean we have eradicated it. Statistics from the National Program for the Fight against STIs (PNLIS) show that AIDS is more present than ever. In a major hospital in Antananarivo, three to five people die from AIDS every week, with victims aged between 19 and 25. This is deeply alarming.
Between 1998 and 2008, the fight against AIDS was a government priority, supported by the USAID. However, due to political crises, this fight was sidelined, and screening and care services were largely abandoned due to a lack of resources. While the prevalence rate among the 15-49 age group is estimated at 0.3% to 0.5%, new infections and deaths have been rising since 2010.
Following the withdrawal of USAID support, the fight against the disease suffered a major setback. Fortunately, additional funding was granted by the U.S. in August, and American experts are expected to assist Malagasy technicians in improving care quality and surveillance mechanisms.
It is a mistake to believe that AIDS is less lethal than malaria. Globally, 40 million people have died from AIDS since 1987, and 40 million are currently living with HIV, 65% of whom are in Africa. Prevention, awareness, screening, and care are more necessary than ever. With 1.3 million new infections reported globally last year, caution is essential, especially regarding the reliability of informal condom sources in the absence of consistent public distribution.
Captured & Published at: 2026-11-04 05:38:48 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/11/sidangereux.html