The provincial government says its annual HIV/AIDS statistical report shows it’s making progress on reducing HIV rates.

There were 177 new HIV cases in Saskatchewan in 2012, a 5% decrease from 2011.

The province says this is happening despite increased access to HIV testing, which has resulted in 23 per cent more tests in 2012 compared to 2009.

The government is crediting its HIV Strategy, now in its fourth year.

The province says there is also a higher number of HIV patients engaged in treatment and experiencing successful outcomes; admissions to hospital with serious AIDS-related diseases are decreasing; and there have been no babies born with HIV through mother-to-child transmission since 2011.

World AIDS Day is this Sunday.