Efforts being made to close the gap in fight against HIV/AIDS - Dr Shanti Singh

Efforts being made to close the gap in fight against HIV/AIDS – Dr Shanti Singh

Dec 03, 2014 News

As Guyana joined the rest of the globe in observance of World AIDS Day, on Monday last, it

Participants at the World AIDS Day Walk and Interfaith Service

was noted that policy makers and programme representatives around the world have been looking to identity and develop strategies which will help to close the gaps in term of making resources to combat the virus universally accessible.
While the commitment of health workers and other stakeholders in Guyana has contributed to a steady progress in terms of combating HIV/AIDS, Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, (NAPS) Dr. Shanti Singh has noted that efforts are being made to improve their campaign against the epidemic.
Dr. Singh said that efforts have been redoubled to remove the barriers which impede on the universal access of all members of the public to accessing preventive care, support and treatment for groups most vulnerable to the disease.
According to Dr Singh, NAPS has provided continuous training for counsellors and workers tasked with dealing with groups who are vulnerable to HIV.
In 2004, the rate was 24.4 percent for homosexuals and 21 percent for sex workers. Those figures have since declined in 2009 to 21 percent for homosexuals and 16.6 percent for sex workers. It was reported that there were gaps in such persons seeking testing, care and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV.
As such, Dr Singh said the key is providing adequate non-discriminatory care and treatment to vulnerable groups like commercial sex workers, persons who use drugs and youth,”
She revealed that latest research shows that approximately 7,200 persons are living with the disease, with almost 80% being on Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment. The remaining 20%, she explained, will not need the treatment until the disease starts to affect their CD4 count or immune defence mechanism. Dr Singh says that NAPS nonetheless continues to provide support for all persons affected by HIV/AIDS.
On Sunday, scores of health officials’ workers and citizens participated in the annual WAD awareness walk and interfaith service under the global 2014 theme ‘Closing the Gap’ to show their support for persons affected by the disease.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Guyana’s prevalence rate of HIV has increased. Reports emanating from NAPS indicate that more people are living with HIV rather than dying of the disease because of an aggressive public education campaign and greater access to treatment and care. Reports also indicated a drastic decline in HIV transmission between a pregnant mother and her child.
Based on the Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BBSS) conducted by NAPS there are expectations that the prevalence rate for gays and sex workers would further decline. However it was reported that confidentiality and trust had increased among the general population; persons are more willing, open and interactive about various aspects of the battle against HIV.