Teenagers Among New HIV Cases as Authorities Renew Safe-Sex Message
Health officials in Antigua and Barbuda say they are seeing a concerning rise in HIV cases among teenagers and young adults, prompting renewed calls for safer sexual practices.
AIDS Programme Manager Delcora Williams said recent data show new infections in the 15 to 19 age group as well as among individuals aged 20 to 48. She described the trend as troubling for the country’s long-term health outlook.
“We’re seeing this increase which is worrying for us because the younger you are and the younger you get your test positive to HIV is the more negative the impact as you go towards your most productive age. And so that is worrying for us as a national,” Williams told ABS.
Health authorities are urging continued vigilance, noting that early infections can have lasting social and economic consequences as affected individuals enter their most productive years.
Officials say the rise underscores the need for consistent safe-sex messaging, targeted outreach, and regular testing, particularly among young people.
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