Gap in access to healthcare stymieing HIV/AIDS fight - Health Minister

Gap in access to healthcare stymieing HIV/AIDS fight – Health Minister

Jul 09, 2015 News

As Guyana continues its fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton has said that the gap in access to healthcare is stymieing the fight.
During a forum held yesterday, Dr. Norton also said that the disease can be conquered if the gaps are filled. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been one affecting the entire world.
He said that this is also true in Guyana’s case. However, he said, things have reached the stage where the HIV/AIDS disease can actually be conquered.
According to Dr. Norton, there is a big gap between those that have exposure to medications and ways to manage the disease and those who do not have the same exposure. He added that there are persons who have no access at all to ways to manage the disease.
“We’ve reached a stage where we can actually say we can conquer HIV/AIDS, that we can rid the world of that scourge. We might have done so before if it were not for that gap,” Dr. Norton said.
He continued, “Unless we can fill that gap – unless we can ensure that there is no person left behind – it will take quite a long time, or might be almost impossible, for us to conquer the AIDS epidemic.”
Dr. Norton said that throughout Guyana there are difficulties in persons having access to adequate health care. He said, too, that interpersonal relationships in the healthcare sector needed to be strengthened.
Though HIV numbers are dropping in Guyana, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) has noted that the country still has much further to go before it can eradicate HIV/AIDS.
According to NAPS, there were 751 new HIV cases and 105 reported cases of AIDS in 2014. Fifty-three of these cases were advanced. However, the proportion of all deaths attributable to AIDS has been steadily declining over the years.
Densely populated regions, such as Region Four, continue to have the highest numbers of HIV cases. In 2013, Region Four recorded 75.4 per cent of the nation’s HIV cases. The second most affected region was Region Two at 9.57 per centre.
Meanwhile, a number of challenges have arisen over time. These challenges include reaching the key populations, the transitioning of human resources, and the underperforming of some treatment sites.
There are also substantial difficulties in carrying down HIV/AIDS numbers of target groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers.

Latest News

Gap in access to healthcare stymieing HIV/AIDS fight – Health Minister

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

India win Champions Trophy

Tutorial and St John’s secure spots in 11th...

East Bank Gunners advance to semis

GBA President congratulates Amsterdam and Lewis...

Wiltshire, Chris dominoes tourney set for March

Players brave the weather in latest MCYS NSC...

Features/Columnists

Are Guyanese ready for change?

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

Ukraine settlement- Guyana watch out

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Gap in access to healthcare stymieing HIV/AIDS fight – Health Minister

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]