Monday May 26, 2008
HIV risks are high in Afghanistan Naqib Taib -26 May, 2008
KABUL (Wakht News Agency): The prevalence of HIV is low in Afghanistan, but the potential risk factors for the spread of the disease remains high, the Public Health Ministry said in statement on Monday.
So -far 435 HIV positive cases have been reported in Afghanistan, the ministry said, but it is estimated there are 2,000-2,500 cases in a population of some 26 million, still a relatively low infection rate.
" war, poverty, illiteracy, massive international and external displacement, the high level of poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and usage, the existence of commercial and unsafe sex, unsafe injection practices and blood transfusion are potential risk factors for its spread," the ministry said.
The World Bank has granted $10 million (5 million pounds) to the ministry for identifying and creating public awareness among those groups most at risk of HIV and AIDS, the Afghan government said.
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