Entorno epidemiológico y respuesta a la epidemia del VIH en Bolivia / Epidemiological environment and response to the HIV epidemic in Bolivia

ABSTRACT

With AIDS/HIV, early detection is of key importance to public health, as well as disseminating prevention information and providing timely and appropriate treatment. In Bolivia, at the end of 2006 approximately 50 percent had AIDS at the time of diagnosis, detection having occurred late in the illness. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bolivia is concentrated, with prevalence rates over 5 percent among the atrisk population, primarily men who have sex with men. From January 1984 through October 2006, the total number of HIV/AIDS cases reported in Bolivia rose to 2 190, with 1 239 HIV and 951 AIDS cases, and underreporting estimated to be over 70 percent country-wide. The United National Joint Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that by the end of 2006 there would be 6 700 people living with HIV/AIDS in Bolivia. In the context of this scenario, the article describes the challenges facing the HIV/AIDS program and the strategies developed to address the epidemic in Bolivia. In addition, the UN-AIDS/PAHO strategies are stressed and must get underway for HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities in the country.