The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE National Health Insurance Authority recorded a 44 percent increase in HIV and AIDS cases among beneficiaries who used its services last year, although officials stressed the figure does not represent newly diagnosed infections.

NHIA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Christy Butler said 354 HIV and AIDS cases were recorded among beneficiaries in 2025, attributing the increase to more people seeking care, undergoing screening and having their conditions reported through the programme.

The figures were released during a press conference outlining health trends among NHI beneficiaries.

Officials clarified that the sexually transmitted disease figures reflect people who used NHI services for the first time and do not correspond to the number of people newly diagnosed during the year.

The report also showed a 9.6 percent increase in overall sexually transmitted disease diagnoses, while syphilis cases rose by 23 percent.

Women accounted for 58 percent of reported STD cases, compared with 42 percent for men.

Mrs Butler said the disparity may partly reflect the fact that more women than men use NHI benefits and seek medical care.

Adults between 25 and 44 accounted for the largest share of STD cases.

An NHIA official said the agency was concerned about the trend but urged that the figures be reported carefully to avoid increasing stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections.

The official said the increase may also indicate that more people feel comfortable seeking testing and treatment through NHI services.

The NHIA figures differ from the national count of newly diagnosed HIV cases.

In June, National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Diseases Programme Director Dr Nikia Forbes said The Bahamas recorded 142 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2025.

Dr Forbes said 96 percent of people living with HIV in The Bahamas know their status, 81 percent of those diagnosed are receiving treatment and 98 percent of patients taking medication have achieved an undetectable viral load, which she described as the gold standard of HIV care.

The Bahamas recorded 156 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2024, up from 130 in 2023.