Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has issued a call for a renewed push in the region to ending AIDS, noting that significant progress has been made over the past decade to reduce AIDS related deaths, which have dropped by more than 60% since 2010.
Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the 10th Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Anthony said regional stakeholders must strengthen coordination, promote innovation, and address sustainability in the HIV response.
He noted that despite the progress made, the Caribbean Region continues to face critical challenges, with approximately 15,000 new HIV infections recorded annually.
He noted that young people remain among the most affected groups, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
“While we have made significant progress, there is still much to be done, because while deaths have fallen dramatically, we have seen new infections and they are not declining as fast as we would like them to be in the region. So right now, there are about 15,000 persons who are getting infected every year and perhaps what is getting even more troubling is that one of four of these new infections occur between the ages of 15 and 24 years,” Dr. Anthony said.
Minister Anthony stated that while the Caribbean now has access to unprecedented tools, including expanded testing, treatment, and innovative prevention methods, there must be a stronger focus on increasing access, strengthening prevention strategies, and ensuring sustainable financing.
He said donor funds to fight the disease in the Region have also dried up.
“We are seeing a change in the financial landscape and one of the international organizations that was set up specially to help fight HIV, TB and Malaria, the funding is now dissipating,” Dr. Anthony stated.
Anthony further called for enhanced Regional collaboration to secure affordable medicines and technologies, while maintaining a people-centred approach that prioritorises the most vulnerable populations.
He said the region must now prioritize ending, rather than managing AIDS, as he reaffirmed his commitment to working with Regional and International partners to achieve the goal of ending AIDS in the Caribbean.
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