Dr Sheila Campbell Forrester (seated), chief medical officer, goes over notes with Lovette Byfield, director of HIV prevention, at the Ministry of Health's King Street office in downtown Kingston yesterday morning. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor

The Ministry of Health is reporting that there was a 30 per cent decrease in the number of new AIDS cases in 2007 when compared with the previous year.

Data also indicate a drop in the number of AIDS-related deaths.

Senior medical officer for the National HIV/STI Programme, Dr Kevin Harvey, has attributed the reduction largely to the introduction of public access to antiretroviral treatment since 2004.

Harvey said there is a large number of persons who should be on antiretrovirals, but they are yet to do HIV tests, adding that as a result, they were unaware of their status.

It is estimated that 6,500 people are in need of antiretroviral therapy. However, only approximately 4,736 are actually receiving treatment.

The 2007 HIV/AIDS Epidemic update also indicates that 73 per cent of all AIDS cases last year were in the 20 to 49 age group.

December 1 will be celebrated as World AIDS Day under the theme: 'Youth: Take the Lead'.

"The focus on youth is timely as young people are extremely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of their involvement in risky lifestyle practices, common at those ages," Harvey said.