The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that people living with HIV have a significant risk of infection of the COVID-19. According to a new report, the health body said following clinical surveillance data from 37 countries, nearly a quarter of people with HIV and also hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 died.
Director of HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, WHO, Dr. Meg Doherty said “the report released today (Thursday) will have important policy implications and will provide data to confirm that HIV is a risk for poor outcomes from COVID-19 and increases the urgency to see all PLHIV on treatment and with access to COVID-19 vaccinations.”
Also, the report noted that the risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 for people living with HIV was 30 percent, particularly as PLHIV commonly have other underlying health conditions like Diabetes and Hypertension.
WHO urged PLHIV to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines and stay as healthy as possible, adding that they should ensure regular access to their antiretroviral medications.
