Most of the 33 cases in the CNMI, Moreno said, belonged to at-risk group of heterosexual young adults.
There were two HIV cases reported last year.
Moreno said this year, the HIV/STD program is still in the process of tallying the data collected from people within at-risk groups so it is too early to tell how many exactly have tested positive.
But he confirmed that there is a new case this year.
Jack Sablan, president of the Napu Foundation, was not surprised to hear about the number of HIV cases in the CNMI.
His community group helps educate the community about HIV/AIDS.
He said they have been getting e-mails from abroad regarding the latest news about HIV since the Napu Foundation is part of the Asian and Pacific Island AIDS Action Group, which has reported that 33 million people all over the world are HIV positive or have AIDS.
He said they are aware that some of the 33 people who were HIV positive in the CNMI have already passed away.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed the proclamation yesterday designating Dec. 1 as World Aids Day which is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic that is caused by the spread of the HIV virus.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said as the commonwealth marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, there is still much more to be done.
This year’s theme, “Lead. Empower. Deliver. Keep the Promise. Stop AIDS,” according to Villagomez, evokes the role each one in the commonwealth can take in the prevention of the spread of the HIV virus.
He said Public Health is expected to lead in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and improve the medical and social services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Public Health has certified counselors who provide counseling, testing and referral services.
Villagomez said Rapid HIV testing is now being offered at family planning clinics throughout the CNMI.
This test is done orally so no blood draw is needed.
It is also much faster than the traditional means as it only takes 20 minutes to run the test.
Villagomez said Public Health has a family planning program that includes HIV testing and education services at its funded clinics throughout the CNMI.
Family planning services, he added, plays a larger role in preventing transmission of the virus.
Individuals, he said, can take care of a loved one affected by HIV, stand up against stigma and discrimination, learn about prevention, get tested and talk to someone about HIV.
Public Health’s HIV/STD treatment and resource center, he added, now concentrates on developing more access to services to reach the under-tested local population.
If a person is tested for an exposure to HIV infection, Public Health can provide health care and treatment and refer him or her to other medical or social services, Villagomez said.
“Our community must remember to treat any person positive with HIV with continued compassion, love, and dignity,” he added.
Besides Moreno, the other individual who work for the HIV/STD treatment and resource center are Ayesha Adelbai, Vicenta Tenorio, Laura Shevy and Carol Paez.
