Vol. 403 No. 4
223 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health (a) the number of people, male and female, who are affected by the HIV-virus in the North-Eastern Health Board area, (b) the number of deaths which have occurred in the North-Eastern Health Board area in each of the last five years and (c) the programme which is in place to deal with this serious matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Department of Health, on the basis of reports from the Virus Reference Laboratory, UCD, monitor the prevalence of HIV on a national rather than a regional basis. This monitoring shows that a total of 1,005 persons have tested positive for the virus since HIV monitoring began in 1985. Similarly, deaths from AIDS are monitored by the Department through direct reports from the consultant in charge of the case, to the national AIDS co-ordinator. The majority of patients with full blown AIDS reported so far have occurred in the Eastern Health Board area. There have also been cases in the South-Eastern, Southern, Western and North-Western Health Boards areas. No person with AIDS has been recorded to date in the North-Eastern Health Board area.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to my statement in the Dáil on Tuesday last, 27 November 1990, in which I set out the Government's strategy relating to AIDS.
