HEALTH authorities have recorded two additional HIV cases this year, bringing the total number of cumulative reported cases to 30.
This was revealed by Solomon Islands National AIDs Council coordinator John Gela yesterday during the commemoration of World AIDs Day in Honiara.
Mr Gela said of the 30 cases, 14 have since died and 16 still alive.
He also revealed that the youngest person living with HIV today is a 13-year-old.
Mr Gela said since 2004 there was a steady rise in cumulative reported cases.
“It is possible that there are more unrecorded cases out there than those living with it and the trend are slowly rising steadily,” he said.
He said people need to come forward for voluntary testing so that they can be identified and treated at the early stages.
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPA) executive director George Pitakoe said to battle against the disease needs a multi-sectoral approach.
“The disease is real and the way forward in battling against it needs a multi-sectoral approach and collaborative efforts.
“We really need to work together if we were to achieve our goals in battling against HIV,” he said.
The two new cases are a male and a female.
World Health Organisation ration for people living with HIV is 1 person to every 10 people as sexual partners.
Thursday’s event was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services together with SIPA.
By CHARLEY PIRINGI