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Guyana embarks on HIV drug resistance surveillance

Dec 20, 2011 News

 

Guyana is the first country in the Latin America and Caribbean Region to have embarked on a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) drug resistance surveillance survey. It has now enrolled 49 persons actively, with the first batch of samples from these persons shipped to Puerto Rico last week.
At the end of this survey Guyana would understand the local HIV drug resistance scenario and would be better positioned to deal with it.
This is according to Dr. Shanti Singh, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS). She made those remarks at NAPS seventh annual Appreciation Ceremony held on Friday at the Secretariat.
She noted that NAPS’s treatment programme is growing as it continues to use evidence for decision making. In this regard, Guyana has completed the second revision of its guidelines and has refreshed the manner in which it manages patients.
Dr. Singh stated, “The vast majority of our patients are now on a tripla-base regimen. The fixed dose combination pill will significantly improve adherence, thus improving clinical outcomes including lowering levels or morbidity and mortality.
She said that this redefinition of management would also reduce the development of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) drug resistance and the need for second line and more expensive Anti-Retroviral (ARVs).
Through the programme 3,579 persons including 200 children, are receiving ARVs. Dr. Singh asserted that persons living with HIV who have registered with NAPS are receiving the highest quality of care.
She pointed out that as NAPS strengthens its treatment programme, prevention remains paramount in reducing new infections and bringing hope that the end of AIDS is within reach and that the possibility of an AIDS free generation is a real one. The key of course to HIV prevention is knowing one’s status.
“We are thankful for support from the National Week of Testing 2011, indeed a hallmark event under the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Programme (VCT). Today we acknowledge a few agencies and partners guided by the Ministry of Health’s vision of universal access to prevention services of VCT remains an essential component in the multi-crown approach to changing sexual behaviours,” Dr. Singh said.
She said, “It is a proven cost effective way of preventing new infections and provides the opportunity for early access to Anti-retroviral therapy thereby improving the quality of life and life expectancy.”
She emphasized that VCT remains one of the cornerstones of NAPS’s HIV prevention programme. Recognition of the importance of the programme has led the Ministry to employ all strategies, explore all avenues and to be innovative as possible in ensuring that every Guyanese knows their HIV status.

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