Up to December 31, 2010, 12,095 people in The Bahamas had tested positive for HIV, accounting for about three percent of the population, according to the most recent statistics released this year.
However, Director of the AIDS Secretariat Marva Jervis said there has been some difficulty reaching the people who are considered to be most at risk for the deadly virus.
She said the Ministry of Health is considering implementing HIV/AIDS mobile testing to reach a greater number of the people considered to be at risk.
According to statistics, 2,075 people had full blown AIDS and 5,741 were HIV positive. Over the years, 4,279 people with HIV/AIDS have died in The Bahamas.
"The most significant point is that a third of these persons are young adults, 15 to 44," said Jervis, referring to the people who currently have the virus.
"[They] are the strength of the nation. These are the persons who will lead us and that is where The Bahamas has its greatest concern."
Jervis was speaking at the National Speech Competition under the topic, "Achieving an AIDS-free Bahamas", at the Red Cross headquarters yesterday.
Jervis said the Ministry of Health is focusing on reaching individuals at higher risk so they can receive HIV counseling.
At-risk people include out of school youth, migrants, men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers and people over the age of 50.
"In addition to counseling, we're thinking about mobile testing," Jervis said. "This is something where we go out into the community. We probably stick behind those desks too much. We need to get out to know people, to help people."
She said it will take a collective effort from everyone to accomplish the ministry's goal of getting to zero new cases by 2015.
Jervis said there has been a decline in new reported cases and a dramatic fall in reported AIDS deaths. In 2000, there were 218 HIV/AIDS related deaths compared to the 59 deaths in 2010, she said.
"So what's happening, we have something to preserve people's lives," she said. "Due to the commitment of the Bahamian government to prevent and control HIV, we also had a seven-fold increase of persons on medication.
"The Bahamas now is able to offer medicine to those who meet treatment criteria. And we're happy about that and it doesn't matter if you were born in The Bahamas, if you need treatment it is available to you."
The majority of HIV/AIDS funding comes from the government. However, corporate sponsors have generously donated over the years.
Lasts week, the Bahamas AIDS Foundation raised another $75,000 for the fight against HIV/AIDS, with Colina Insurance Ltd. donating $50,000 and Kerzner International donating $25,000.
The check presentations were made at the 19th annual Red Ribbon Ball at Atlantis Resort on Saturday night.
Over the years the event has raised close to $1 million to provide medicine for HIV-positive pregnant women, establish outreach programs for adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS and create public service announcements to educate the public.

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