The development of harmonized minimum standards for guidance on HIV testing and counselling and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in the SADC region: HTC country report: Mauritius

Abstract

According to the Republic of Mauritius UNGASS report (2008), based on 2007 sentinel surveillance data provided by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (MOHQL), the total cumulative HIV/AIDS cases for Mauritius amount to 3258, of whom 3107 are residents. Among the residents detected as positive, 2574 are male and 533 female, resulting in a male to female sex ratio of 5:1. Death among residents registered as HIV/AIDS cases, cumulatively as from 1987 to November 2007 amounts to 217 (214 adults and 3 children) thus leaving 2890 (2410 males and 480 females) people living with the virus at present. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mauritius is said to be 'concentrated' with estimated adult (15-49 years) prevalence of 1.8%1, and estimated rate of infection among the IDUs ranging from 30% to 60%.

HIV Testing and Counselling services have been extended to all 5 health regions in order to encourage HIV testing among the population in general. Three centres are operational in the district of Port-Louis where there is a higher concentration of most at risk population (MARP). According to Medical Statistics, 43,246 people were tested for HIV in 2007.