Puerto Vallarta registers an increase of people with HIV
Puerto Vallarta has 2,625 files of people with HIV, being that last year a very important increase was registered due to the pandemic.
Dr. Saul Ruiz, director of the Ambulatory Center for the Prevention and Care of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CAPASITS) of Puerto Vallarta, informed that they have 2,625 files of people with HIV and that last year there was a very important increase due to the pandemic since many patients with this disease who stayed in the city requested support to provide them with retroviral treatment.
"Some of them remained residents here in the city with the medical treatment, which is why there was an increase of almost one thousand patients in the last year".
He clarified that the increase is not so much due to new cases but to the people already living with the disease and who are being treated at this outpatient center. He commented that Puerto Vallarta, being a preferred destination for the LGBT community, makes it one of the cities with the highest number of HIV cases in the state.
"In first place is the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara, Zapopan, and Puerto Vallarta in third place, in terms of population we do have cases but because it is a tourist destination and we have many fluctuating patients, that is to say, they come for a few months and are given their medication, they are registered and many of them return to their city of origin".
He indicated that the retroviral treatment is still free of charge and there is no shortage of medicines despite the pandemic; likewise, free tests and treatments against Hepatitis C are already being provided. It should be noted that on December 1 of each year, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. The world comes together to support people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
