A SIGNIFICANT increase in HIV/AIDS patient numbers in Cyprus can be attributed to the influx of repatriated Cypriots and foreigners over the past eight years, a new report states.
The phenomenon reflects international migration trends and although an issue of concern, there is little government services can do to stop it, Dr Laura Papantoniou, who heads the National AIDS Programme, which carried out the report, said.
“People should still be alert. No country can be relaxed [where HIV/AIDS is concerned] but our numbers are at stable levels. There are a lot of foreigners and repatriates. Just as we move country, so do they,” she said.
Papantoniou was speaking to the Cyprus Mail following the publication of a condensed epidemiological report for the period 1986 to 2007 (end of June).
During the 11-year period, the programme recorded 547 HIV positive patients, of which 289 were Cypriots and 258 foreign nationals. Of the 547, 323 were permanent residents, 273 of who were Cypriot and 50 foreigners.
The male:female ratio of HIV is 4:1 among permanent residents, while the ratio of HIV among permanent Cypriot male and female residents is 6:1, while between foreign men and women who are permanent residents the ratio drops to 1:1.
According to the report, 70 per cent of diagnoses belonged to the age group 20 to 39, while eight per cent of diagnosed patients were aged 40 to 44.
The majority of permanent residents were infected through sexual intercourse, with 46.4 per cent infected through heterosexual intercourse and 46.1 per cent through homosexual intercourse. A small number of patients were infected by blood transfusions (during the first years of the epidemic and abroad), through pregnancy (two instances – a child born to a Cypriot mother in 1992 and another born to a foreign couple) and through intravenous drug use.
The report indicated that the annual average infection rate from 1986 to 2006 was 25 new cases, 15 of which related to permanent residents and 10 to foreign residents.
Among the Cypriot HIV positive patients who now live permanently in Cyprus, the average frequency is 12: nine permanent residents and three repatriates.
From 2005 there was an increase in the annual frequency of new cases, the report said. This was mainly due to the arrival of foreigners who moved to Cyprus and became permanent residents, as well as the arrival of repatriated Cypriots.
The percentage of foreigners among total number of HIV positive permanent residents increased significantly over the past eight years, particularly the last three, the report said.
Specifically, before 2000 they made up six per cent of patients, and during 2000 to 2007 this jumped to 30 per cent. Over the last three years, the percentage has increased to 37 per cent.
“The situation here is stable. Because we have a lot of foreigners and repatriates we have to be ready to deal with them. Not just regarding AIDS but in all areas. We also have to remain vigilant regarding drug use and movement from the occupied areas [which is harder to control],” Papantoniou said.
She said migrant health was an issue that concerned not just Cypriot health services but all of Europe.
“Countries are very concerned with the health of migrants,” she said.
A number of congresses were being held later this year to address exactly this issue, she added.
The doctor pointed out that the structure of Cypriot society changed very rapidly, as did people’s thought processes and attitudes which then had an impact on the status quo.
“Our role is not to judge but to implement prevention programmes. That is why we focus on schools and children of young ages,” she said.
Papantoniou said AIDS educational programmes in public schools had so far been highly effective. She said the national AIDS programme now wanted to include students at college and university level in targeting other youth.
She said the programme also had plans to contact youth non-governmental organisations to help them with their goal.
“We have a lot of remarkable youth who would be very good trainers for our young.
It’s more effective having a young person talking to another young person. Besides we cannot cover all schools in Cyprus. We are very optimistic that we should have some response by the end of the year of anyone that is interested,” she said.
