More than 40 million people living with HIV and Aids

More than 95 per cent of all HIV-infected people live in developing countries, while 60 per cent of all new sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, occur between the ages of 15 and 24.

An integral approach is needed to successfully fight sexual health and the Aids epidemic, the National Council of Women stressed.

Council president Grace Attard said that in 80 per cent of the cases HIV was spread through sexual transmission, and should therefore be part of a comprehensive policy.

"Integration has to take part at various levels. Primary health care facilities can offer greater privacy and confidentiality and more efficient and effective programmes to all, including people with different sexual orientation," she said.

Ms Attard said that to prevent new infections, sexual health education had to make young people aware of the pressures that surrounded them.

In her message for World Aids Day, tomorrow, Ms Attard stressed that all education efforts and services should work toward reducing the stigma and discrimination related to HIV status, sexual orientation and gender.

"Information, education, communication and counselling services need to be stepped up," she said.

Ms Attard said the council was deeply concerned with the "serious implications" connected with HIV and Aids. She said that today more than 40 million people around the world were living with HIV and Aids.

"Of all human development indicators, those for reproductive health reveal the largest gaps between low income and developed countries and the most striking inequalities between rich and poor people within countries. The high risk groups include adolescents, migrants, commercial sex workers, refugees and displaced people," she said.

The council president said sexual reproductive ill health accounted for 20 per cent of the global burden of disease and 32 per cent of the burden among women between the ages of 15 and 44.