SOLOMON Islands has recorded one new HIV case this year, the Solomon Islands National Aid Council (SINAC) meeting was told yesterday.

This new case was announced as the Ministry of Health and non-government organisations joined hands to fight the killer disease.

This new case has brought the total number of confirmed HIV positive cases to 13.

SINAC Coordinator, John Gela said five people – three males and two females – have already died.

He said 12 of them were detected by voluntary testing while one was detected through other means of testing.

Mr Gela said for AIDS, there were 12 cases so far in the country.

He said seven people are still living, three dead while two are on treatment.

SINAC met yesterday at Pacific Casino get feed back from its members.

Its members include the World Vision, Health Ministry, Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA), Church of Melanesia, Oxfam and Honiara City Council Youth Division.

Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Lester Ross chaired the meeting.

The meeting heard HIV was still an ongoing threat to this nation due to the social economic problem facing the country.

It also heard girls and women are resorting to prostitution to make ends meet.

Dr Ross said there’s still need for more research to be done into prostitution in order to help the Government make a policy or legislation to counter it.

Source: Solomon Star, 8 October 2009