HIV/AIDS in Colombia

In the region, Colombia stands as the third-highest number of reported cases of HIV/AIDS. In addition, while 21,000 individuals are getting treatment there are 54,000 who are not.The infected population profile for HIV/AIDS in Colombia is mainly workers from 15 to 46 years old on average, being the second-most-frequent cause of deaths and the third-most-expensive disease (surpassed only by dialysis and cancer problems).

The first cases date from 1983, increasing 400 times the first decade, and 600 times between year 1985 and 1993. Bogotá and Medellín score slightly higher of half the population infected, and for each woman with HIV, 5–7 men correspond in the same condition. Each day, 18 new cases of AIDS in Colombia are reported.

According to statistics available in Health Ministry and social protection, 41,900 Colombians live with AIDS. The people who have AIDS stand as 71% of the population and are between 15 and 45 years while 23.6% of them do not know the way they got infected.

The Social Secure Institute (ISS: instituto de seguridad social) has pointed out that each of the 160,000 patients of AIDS can take 2 to 10 years to recover, costing 23 millions pesos (15 thousand dollars) which stands for 22% of the disease prevention program budget.

References

C. Volcy, Lo malo y lo feo de los microbios, facultad de ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, p181. (2004).