HIV/AIDS cases in Guyana declining more

HIV/AIDS cases in Guyana declining more

The commitment of the Health sector and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) in Guyana in the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic is being credited for the drastic reduction in reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.  This was revealed on Monday at the Regency Hotel during a discussion meeting on the 2013 Guyana Country Progress Report on HIV/AIDS.

Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, observed that it was not an easy task to get the information together, but it had to be done regardless of the status.

He noted that while Guyana stills stands a little bit ahead of most neighbouring countries, with 1.2% prevalence in the general population, the Caribbean has actually achieved about 1% and Latin American countries 0.5%, there is still work to do.

Dr. Persaud emphasised that screening is vital for intervention and treatment, and that the education of families to understand this by National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) is to be commended.

The opening of the stakeholders’ forum also saw remarks being delivered on the state of the HIV/AIDS fight by Civil Society Representative, Desiree Edghill; and UNAIDS Guyana Country Coordinator, Dr Roberto Brant Campos. The submission of Guyana’s report will be in keeping with the targets set in the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, and is to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly by September 2014.

Monday’s meeting was the final in a series of stakeholders’ meetings held to finalise Guyana’s document for submission to the Global UNAIDS Secretariat for the monitoring of targets set in the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The submission contributes to the UN Secretary General’s report to the General Assembly, as well as the 2013 end of year report on the global AIDS epidemic.

The 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS committed countries to, by 2015, halve sexual transmission of HIV and transmission among intravenous drug users, eliminate mother-to-child transmission, significantly reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths, halve tuberculosis deaths in people living with HIV, and put 15 million people living with the disease on antiretroviral drug therapy.

In addition, member states committed to accelerate research and development for a safe, affordable, effective, accessible vaccine and for a cure for HIV, as well as to deploy new biomedical interventions-such as microbicides, HIV treatment prophylaxis and early treatment as prevention as soon as they are validated. Moreover, countries are expected to report annually on progress towards those aims.

NAPS Programme Director, Dr Shanti Singh said the only way to address the existing challenges is to strengthen education programmes throughout the society, even at the level of the workplace, among key target populations and even among health care workers. She also pointed to the fact of the consequences of stigma and discrimination which are many.

Dr. Singh explained that the whole concept of treatment and prevention is one that speaks to having persons who are HIV positive being able to access treatment to lower or suppress their viral-load to a point where HIV becomes almost non-transmissible. She added that the national fight against the disease is likely to be severely hampered since the continuance of stigma and discrimination is likely to see infected persons being unwilling to access treatment programmes.

“The meeting was one in a series of many stakeholder meetings which saw the crafting of “many, many drafts before we got to this first Draft that we are disseminating here today,” said Dr Singh.

Meanwhile, Dr Campos observed that in 2013 it was highlighted that the end of AIDS is possible, and this was determined as a scientific possibility. He urged that Guyana continues the fight with this aim in mind.

            The Health Ministry observed World AIDS Day in 2012, under the theme “Getting to Zero”, meaning “Zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS related deaths.”

The country’s HIV fight began in the late 1980s as a daunting task, quick mobilisation of the international partners, health services and non-Governmental organisations, saw the recognition for immediate action. The answer to this call to action showed results, leaving several areas of focus for Guyana.

Firstly, Guyana intends to report the elimination of mother to child transmission in 2015. The tireless work and drive in this area by health personnel and others will ensure that no babies are born HIV infected, an investment in the future.

Secondly, persons living with HIV continue to access high quality services and high quality Anti-retroviral medication, which has resulted in persons living longer and healthier lives, and fewer deaths related to AIDS. Thirdly, new infections have continued to be reduced among the population as efforts are intensified in targeting the population at higher risk for HIV.

The fourth point was that stigma to HIV is less than before. (GINA)

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