Country Situational Analysis

Situation of HIV epidemic in the country

The HIV epidemic in Mauritius is defined as concentrated with an estimated adult prevalence of 1.7%. The number of people living with HIV is estimated at 13,000 and 85% are thought to have been infected through injecting drug use.

There has been a shift in the main mode of transmission of HIV from heterosexual sex to injecting drug use. In 2000 only 2% of those living with HIV were injecting drug users. This figure gradually rose to 14% in 2002, 66% in 2003, 87% in 2004, 92% in 2005 and 85.9% in 2006.

Antiretroviral therapy coverage for Mauritius is 22%.

Key elements of the national response

The AIDS Control Programme (NACP) was established in 1987 shortly after the first AIDS case was recorded. In 2001 the first National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan was launched with broad participation from government ministries, civil society, NGOs and the private sector.

The Government of Mauritius has demonstrated strong support to the national response to HIV. The main elements of the national response to HIV in Mauritius are:

• Prevention of HIV among the general population and in key populations at higher risk
• A multi-sectoral national drug control masterplan for 2007-2009 which integrates a national HIV prevention strategy.
• An HIV and AIDS Act that ensures the protection of human rights for people living with HIV
• Expansion of HIV Testing and Counseling services
• A wide condom distribution network in the urban and rural areas
• Provision of free antiretroviral treatment
• An Action Plan for Treatment, Care and support of people living with HIV

Key achievements

• Development of the Action Plan for HIV Prevention among injecting drug users and commercial sex workers for 2003-2008.
• Launch of Action Plan for treatment, care and support to people living with HIV in 2006
• Set up of the Methadone Substitution Therapy Program at the National Detoxificaton Centre in Beau-Bassin in November 2006.
• Launch of the HIV and AIDS Act in December 2006 which guarantees the protection of fundamental human rights of people living with HIV
• Launch of a National multisectoral HIV and AIDS Communication Plan
• Set up of a National AIDS Coordinating Authority with a broad-based multisectoral mandate
• Finalisation of a National Monitoring & Evaluation Plan to ensure the constant monitoring and periodic evaluation of the National Strategic Plan
• Provision of free antiretroviral therapy was made available since April 2002
• Launch of the Needle Exchange Program in 2006
• Launch of the National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework for 2007-2011 in 2007

Key challenges

• Need to carry out a combined seroprevalence and behavioural survey among most at risk populations to establish baseline data
• Lack of a Sentinel Surveillance System
• Unavailability of baseline data from the sero-prevalence survey and the updated behavioural surveillance survey
• The nascent M&E unit has limited human resources
• Data on HIV and AIDS is still not centralized
• Low uptake of testing, counseling and care services
• High cost and lack of sufficient human resource for scaling up of the Methadone Substitution Therapy programme for injecting drug users
• Persistent stigmatization and discrimination towards people living with HIV
• Insufficient involvement of the private sector in the national response to HIV
• Insufficient follow-up of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment due to the lack of viral load monitoring

Useful Links

UNAIDS Country Office
Galaxy Andraharo, Bâtiment Ariane V, BP 1348
+261 20 23 366 32
+261 20 23 641 84

NACP Secreteriat
Prime Minsters Office 4th Floor Cernee House La Chausee Street Port Louis - Mauritius Tel: + 00230 213 8328 Email: nas@mail.gov.mu

UNAIDS Global Report Data