Mbanza Kongo – At least 22 people died of HIV/AIDS, out of 459 cases reported from January to December 31 last year, by the health authorities of Zaire province, said Friday in Mbanza Kongo, the hospital source.

The provincial supervisor of the programme of fight against HIV/AIDS in the northern province, Manuel Kai, who provided the information to ANGOP, said that during the above-mentioned period were tested in several voluntary counselling and testing centre (CATV) of the province, about 21,741 citizens, among them 12,542 pregnant women.

He stated that compared to the same period of 2008 there was registered an increase of 16 cases of HIV/AIDS and one death, and the citizens aged from 20 to 39 years were the most affected by the disease.

Manuel Kai said currently 218 people infected with HIV/AIDS receive medical health-care in various health units in the region.

Mbanza Kongo and Soyo recorded the highest number of cases of the deadly virus with a total of 238 and 144 cases, followed by municipalities of Kuimba and Nzento 24 and 22 cases respectively.

 
The province of Zaire has voluntary counselling and testing centres in all municipalities.