Adult men are far less likely to know about HIV and AIDS – New Amsterdam Hospital CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Colin Bynoe, made this deathly revelation of men at a rally in New Amsterdam on Thursday in front of the Banks DIH New Amsterdam outlet at Main and New Streets in observance of World AIDS Day.

Prior to the rally, healthcare providers marched with others from Barks Bridge, sharing anti-AIDS flyers.
Speaking at the rally, Bynoe noted that the campaign against AIDS focuses not only on prevention, but also on ways to improve strategies to slow down the rate at which the epidemic has been spreading.
“In 2016 this epidemic has now given us a total of 78 million persons who have been diagnosed with HIV, and 38 million people who died from AIDS-related diseases over the years. Adult men are far less likely to know about HIV and AIDS as compared to women… that is why over the years we had a larger amount of men passing on than women. Men have been behaving that way because of our macho nature. HIV and AIDS have no barriers, it has no respect for being macho or whether you want to be a ‘Tessa real girl’,” he emphasised.
He added that AIDS ruins one’s life and all that they would have planned to do.
Meanwhile, Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, stated that annually HIV/AIDS is only focused on at World AIDS Day on December 1: “I believe that we here in Region Six can turn it around next year. In 2017 the Regional Health Services will be launching an HIV campaign, inclusive of bumper stickers, flyers, stickers and constant reminders. Because we want to ensure that we are constantly reminding ourselves as residents of Region Six to make smart choices and remember that HIV does not discriminate.”
The event was also used to celebrate the hard work of health workers, social service providers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in bringing help to those living with HIV/AIDS and also to remember all those affected and those who have lost their lives as a result of AIDS-related illnesses.
The emotionally-charged ceremony, especially for some healthcare providers, was punctuated with dramatic poetry and songs.
Medical Superintendant of the New Amsterdam Hospital Dr Vishalya Sharma noted that the NGOs which participated, United Brick Layers, Comforting Hearts, and FACT, do understand the impact and effect of HIV/AIDS: “Not just on the person, but on the family and the community.”
When World AIDS Day was first observed in Guyana in 1988, it was the first time that Region Six participated in an internationally-recognised health event. Dr Sharma noted that back then, the objective was to highlight the importance of prevention.
He explained: “Today the goal remains the same: to prevent HIV. Today in Region Six we are focusing on preventing HIV from affecting our brothers and sisters and more importantly to improve the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS.”
While the number of incidents of HIV on a global level has decreased since 2008 by 35 per cent and the number of deaths of AIDS-related ailments by 45 per cent, Dr Sharma noted that Berbice would have played its role in the reduction.
This year’s World AIDS Day was observed under the theme, ‘Hands up for HIV Prevention’.