Health authorities in the eastern DR Congo city of Beni in North Kivu province have expressed great concern the over the rising numbers of HIV infections following recent statistics published on Wednesday.
According to statistics, Beni currently has at least 2,800 people suffering from HIV/AIDS the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS) attributing this surge to the population’s reluctance and refusal use condoms.
PNLS Coordinator Dr. Nicaise Mathe fears that the figures may continue to rise in the city while also expressing his disappointment by the population’s refusal to practice safe and protected sex.
“The local population does not always want to internalize the idea of using condoms during the (sexual) act. If we are not careful, there is a risk that the whole city will be contaminated,” he warned.
The coordinator of the PNLS in Beni also insisted on the need to set up programs sensitize the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and control measures to avoid the worst in the DR Congo.
Among the measures, Dr. Mathe mentioned include sexual abstinence, good fidelity, the use of condoms and voluntary testing. In his opinion as the most effective means of controlling AIDS.
