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From the detection of the first case in Barbados in 1984, through to the end of December 2024, 4,947 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Barbados.
That is outlined in the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael’s, World Aids Day 2025 message.
He states that of these close to 5,000 people, 64 per cent were male and 36 per cent were female. Males also account for the majority of persons diagnosed with advanced disease (67 per cent of aids cases) in this country.
In 2024, there were 105 newly diagnosed cases, with a median age of diagnosis of 34.6 years, while the 20-29 age group represented the highest proportion of new infections (37.1 per cent).
Minister Ishmael says the Ministry remains committed to working alongside the National Wellbeing and HIV Commission and other government agencies, civil society, faith-based organisations, regional and international partners to move towards a more inclusive and equitable HIV response.
