Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
AIDS deaths plunge 60% in Caribbean
— but 15,000 new infections still worrying
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, with the multi-sectoral team at the Tenth Meeting of the National AIDS Programme.
(Kaieteur News) – AIDS-related deaths across the Caribbean have dropped by more than 60 per cent since 2010, a major public health breakthrough, but regional leaders warn the fight is far from over.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, made the disclosure while attending the 10th Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners in Trinidad and Tobago, where officials are assessing progress and tightening strategies to combat HIV. Dr. Anthony said the sharp decline in deaths is the result of years of sustained investment, expanded treatment access, and coordinated regional action.
“This progress did not happen by accident. It happened because governments invested in treatment. It happened because of our collective work to provide dignity and care…it shows us something important: that when the Caribbean commits to a challenge, it can deliver results,” Dr. Anthony stated according to a Department of Public Information press release.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony speaks at the 10th Meeting of the National AIDS Programme.
The meeting, which ran from March 17–20, brought together National AIDS Programme managers, chief medical officers, permanent secretaries, and representatives from finance, planning, and community development sectors, reflecting a multi-sectoral approach to addressing HIV in the region.
Despite the progress, Dr. Anthony cautioned that the Caribbean continues to record approximately 15,000 new HIV infections annually, with young people remaining among the most vulnerable groups. He highlighted that the Caribbean now has access to stronger tools than ever before, including expanded HIV testing services, improved treatment regimens, and innovative prevention methods.
Among the key government and regional initiatives driving progress are: expansion of HIV testing and treatment services across public health systems, improving early detection and long-term care outcomes; scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) access, contributing significantly to reduced AIDS-related mortality; regional coordination through PANCAP, strengthening policy alignment and technical support among CARICOM states; integration of HIV services into primary healthcare systems, improving accessibility at the community level; targeted prevention programmes for key populations and young people, aimed at reducing new infections and specialised laboratory equipment to conduct viral load testing, ensuring patients are effectively monitored.
The minister further called for enhanced regional cooperation to secure affordable medicines and emerging technologies, while maintaining a people-centred approach that prioritises vulnerable populations. “We have proven that we can deliver results. Now, we must decide, will we manage AIDS, or will we end it?” he said. Minister Anthony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with regional and international partners to accelerate progress toward the goal of ending AIDS in the Caribbean, noting that coordinated action will be critical in achieving long-term success.
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