The report sent by our Honduran executive director, Pascual, was puzzling. Of the 912 people tested in the “high risk” groups – gay men, Garifuna, soldiers and prisoners – only 5 were HIV-positive. Meanwhile, 24 people in the “población general” tested positive.
Who are these members of the “general population?”
They are the 268 women and men we tested in the marketplaces, central parks, and slums. Twenty-one percent of them self identify as LGBT; 62.5% are male and the median age is 34 years.
Nine percent of them tested positive for HIV.
The slums (“bordos”) deserve further explanation. These unincorporated areas do not have city services like water, sanitation, schools, health centers, and public transportation. They are built up around the rivers, which can flood, carrying away their cardboard and wooden houses. Social workers call the residents “invisible” because they live separated from society and work the least desirable jobs.
We think these findings point to a large unmet need for education and testing among the urban poor. Identifying this population is an important discovery. When we test and treat patients, they can become healthy and far less likely to infect others. With renewed funding from the Gilead Foundation, we will triple the number of people living in the slums and other urban areas. We will also continue to follow this cohort to ensure treatment and ongoing care.
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