MAPUTO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities of Mozambique said here on Tuesday that HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country has increased from 11.5 percent to 13.2 percent, according to the national census conducted last year.
The number of people in the southeast African country living with HIV/AIDS is now 2.1 million, and 130,000 new infections occur annually.
"We have about 70,000 victims of HIV/AIDS annually and we estimate that there are 120,000 pregnant women infected and the ratio for vertical transmission from mother to child is at 14 percent," said Aleny Couto from the National Program for the Control of HIV/AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections under the Ministry of Health.
The results of the incident indicate that the peak of prevalence is among people between 35 to 39 years old and the only provinces from the 11 provincial regions that did not register an increase of the virus prevalence are Manica, Tete and Gaza.
The Health Minister Nazira Abdula said that of the infected people 54 percent are presently on antiretroviral treatment and the goal is to increase this figure to 90 percent by 2020.
"We will continue engaging community and church leaders to develop and consolidate good practices," said the minister.
The ministry of health is concerned over stigma and discrimination which is affecting patients significantly, stopping them from seeking for professional help, health services and other counseling that could lead them to a healthier life.
