Very good care, conditions for people with HIV
Half of the cases being treated in Malta involve African immigrants
The care and conditions for people living with HIV/AIDS in Malta are very good, according to the Euro HIV Index (EHIVI) 2009, which was presented today in Brussels.
This first survey of HIV policy and best practice ranked Malta second out of 29 countries, scoring 791 points from a potential 1,000. Luxembourg topped the list with 857 points.
The survey showed that Malta is doing rather well in all four sub-disciplines. And although the total number of HIV/AIDS cases was still small compared to other countries, it was growing fast.
“Prevention and access should be the main areas for increased efforts, especially as in recent years the number of people on the island infected with HIV has quadrupled; half of the cases being treated in Malta involve African immigrants.
"There is a risk that such good performance deteriorates in the near future because of lack of financial support and human resources,” Beatriz Cebolla, the Euro HIV index director said.
While the number of people living with HIV (PLWH) increased in every member state, budgets in several countries were reduced.
Sexual risk behaviour was becoming more regular practice. Criminalisation of HIV was a problem in many countries, and access to care for marginalised groups such as undocumented migrants was not guaranteed almost anywhere in Europe.
Discrimination and stigma was frequent and harm reduction strategies in prisons were still weakly implemented, especially in the Eastern European countries.
There was a general lack of leadership in HIV management and no government seemed to know the true number of HIV-infected inhabitants. The main conclusion of the HIV Index was that there still was a lot to be done.
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
C.ZARB
Oct 13th 2009, 22:31
I have nothing against helping others as long as we can afford it. Unfortunately Its not the case for Malta. Since the illegal immigration phenomenon had hit our islands, our social services had been hit badly. We have seen our government cutting subsidies, first to the honest tax payers and now he's aiming towards single mothers too. Meanwhile immigrants keep on coming and we are ending up footing the bill. Have you ever heard of one illegal immigrant living in the open/closed center complaining about the fuel surcharge? I haven't. Have you heard of one local homeless person who was offered a bed in an open center? I haven't.
The government loves using the Christian excuse to justify his inaction when he knows exactly that if he didn't signed the Dublin Convention we wouldn't have this problem in the first place. The government should be ashamed of locking immigrants on a little island which hold little future to them as much as he should be ashamed of portraying a EU which believes in solidarity when its actually not the case.That's neither ethical nor Christian at all.
George Debattista Senior
Oct 13th 2009, 20:54
Ho C Zarb, maybe they are using the African immigrants as guinea Pigs, just like they use to do with animals for experiment or going back in the dark ages durng WW2>The Germans with the poor Jews in the concentration camps what a horrible thought.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 13th 2009, 20:21
Charles Sammut
apart from the economic cost I wonder how much it is costing in lifes ajdiom jitkellmu issa l NGOs u dogooders jew fej jaqbillom biss
Claire Busuttil
it means exactly what you think it means...they are letting ppl die of the virus
C.ZARB
Oct 13th 2009, 18:15
"half of the cases being treated in Malta involve African immigrants."
Meanwhile there are many who are pushing their agenda so that free health doesn't remain free for those who 'can pay' (ie many of whom are Maltese and honest taxpayers).
Claire Busuttil
Oct 13th 2009, 17:34
'While the number of people living with HIV (PLWH) increased in every member state, budgets in several countries were reduced.'
can the author of this, explain a bit more into detail this sentence?????? Does this mean that there are EU countries, trying to spend less for these patients????? and if yes, which countries are those??? Truly I find it incredible such a news!!!
lgalea
Oct 13th 2009, 16:13
Charles Sammut
If I remember correctly it amounts to some 700 euros per week.
Kenneth Galea
Oct 13th 2009, 13:45
I am pleased to hear that the care in Malta for HIV/AIDS is of high quality. At least something is working properly in the health department. Keep up the good work and let's remove the stigma attached to this disease.
Charles Sammut
Oct 13th 2009, 12:30
@ mark borg
Illegal immigrants are not routinely checked for HIV/AIDS. It is only where there are glaringly obvious symptoms that tests are carried out. Therefore the number of illegal immigrands with HIV/AIDS is much greater than the 'official' figure. I clearly remember a government official (doctor?) with tongue in cheek, saying on TV that these people do not carry diseases. i alsi remember Medcins Sans Frontiers declaring that these Africans were healthy on arrival and got sick because of the conditions they are kept in.
Can someone make a PQ as to how much it costs to treat such a patient?
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 13th 2009, 11:33
haha there you go ..half of them are immigrants...diga lahqu nofs.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 13th 2009, 11:32
how about some real data..such as how much of them are maltese and how much are illegal immigrants.