At least 17,000 cases of AIDS have been recorded in Angola, since 1985 till February this year, although estimates point to 350,000 Angolan citizens infected with the deadly virus.
According to the Angolan official news agency Angop on Thursday, the director of the National Institute of Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Dulcelina Serrano, said that although these numbers do not mirror the country's real situation, there is improvement in information and data gathering system.
Until December 2004, about 14,000 cases of AIDS had been reported, but only on January this year, 2,000 were recorded, which indicates that the current figures can increase, as many cases which were unknown are now under control of the health authorities.
She explained that the most vulnerable age group is from 20 to 35 years and women are the main victims. The most affected provinces are Luanda, Benguela, Kuando Kubango, Uije, Cabinda and Cunene.
On the other hand, she said that Sagrada Esperanca hospital controls 3,570 HIV positive people and since its opening in March 2004, 189 patients died there, all victims of the illness.
Dulcelina Serrano said that the medicines granted at the health centers and hospitals are of high quality. They are produced in India and approved by the World Heath Organization and other agencies that control the drugs' quality.
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