HIV/AIDS in Uruguay
The presence of HIV/AIDS in Uruguay is an ongoing health concern for the population of that South American nation.
Prevalence
According to
As in most of the Spanish-speaking world, HIV and AIDS are known as VIH and SIDA in Uruguay.[2]
History
Initially, HIV/AIDS spread quickly in Uruguay: by August 1988, there were 422 confirmed HIV cases in the country, of which 73 had progressed to full-blown AIDS. Of the latter 73, 39 had been reported as deceased. 86.5% of the then-reported cases were males at that time.[3]
According to the Uruguayan government, across social and economic levels, the percentages of people affected with HIV in Uruguay range between 1% and 5% of the population. Between 2016 and 2020, there were an average of 902 new cases reported per year.[4] (info on Spanish-language PDF included on this link)
Government response
Dia nacional del VIH/SIDA
The Uruguayan government has designated July 29 as HIV/AIDS national day (Dia nacional del VIH/SIDA) in Uruguay to commemorate those who have passed away from the virus and disease and those suffering from them.[5]
That particular date also commemorates the first time that the presence of HIV and AIDS were detected in Uruguay, when, on July 29, 1983, a person who had recently arrived in the country from the United States was diagnosed.[6]
References
- ^ "Uruguay". www.unaids.org.
- ^ "Informe Situación epidemiológica del VIH/SIDA en Uruguay 2021". Ministerio de Salud Pública.
- ^ "Los veinte primeros casos de SIDA tratados en la Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas de la Facultad de Medicina" (PDF). Rev Med Uruguay. 6 (1): 13–22. 1990.
- ^ "Informe Situación epidemiológica del VIH/SIDA en Uruguay 2021". Ministerio de Salud Pública.
- ^ "Día Nacional del VIH/SIDA | Fondo Nacional de Recursos".
- ^ "Día de la lucha contra el Sida | Uruguay Educa".