The women are threaten to extinction

The victims of AIDS epidemic are mostly women in the region of Diana. 75 % persons being detected to be seropositive are women.
In fact, the latest monitoring report on this pain shows that 24 persons out of about 2000 detection are infected by AIDS/HIV in this northern region. And, out of these 24 seropositive persons, 18 are women, 4 are men. The two other ones died not long time ago.
By these statistics, it is clear that women are becoming a « spices threatened for extinction » in the region of Diana because of this epidemic. This clear increase in infection rate on women populations is raising doubts about the efficiency of the actions made by health promoters, which are based in the community, while implementing the prevention strategy basically focused on faithfulness, use of condoms and, above of all, abstinence.
However, the evolution of the epidemic is still far to be stabilized since the Diana region constitutes one of the most chosen destinations by foreign tourists. It is then more exposed to prostitution and love relationships. Apparently, sexual intercourses are stimulated by such poverty.

Strengthened

Out of these 24 seropositive cases, 7 were discovered during voluntary screening sessions. 1 was detected during blood donation, 9 through mother-child transmission prevention and the remaining cases were discovered through other illness symptoms, such as tuberculosis. The regional authorities are concerned about these statistics in such way to increase their preoccupation face to this feminization of the AIDS incidence at this northern point of the Great Isle. Being aware of the threat caused by AIDS, the general secretary of the Diana Région, Mr. Elysé Herilalao, temporarily acting as Chief of region after the tragic death of Mr. Nosy Harinony Jérôme Christophe on March 16,2006, organized a meeting on July 19, in the Antsiranana Province palace with all the directors and regional authorities, chiefs of deconcentrated services, representatives from the private sectors and NGOs concerned by the fight against AIDS, technical partners and funding organizations to discuss expressly about this pandemic.
“It was decided that, from now on, every sectors will be involved in fight against this AIDS pandemic. The yesterday meeting has lead to an engagement to double the efforts and allowed to define orientations as well as propositions to strengthen the fight within the coming months. Then, all prevention activities will be intensified. On the other hand, the participants of this meeting have suggested the promotion of counseling activities, the improvement of the sensitization actions and the voluntary test as the Seecaline project of Antsiranana have been practicing since a certain time.

Rolland A.
Le Quotidien N°844 20 July 2006