As Guyana joined in the observance of World AIDS Day on Thursday, the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) urges local stakeholders to place more emphasis on the education of HIV prevention.
World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, was held this year under the theme “Hands Up for HIV Prevention”; hence, PANCAP’s calls for greater focus on HIV prevention measures and education.
The representatives from PANCAP, Caricom, the Public Health Ministry and other organisations at the event held in observance of World AIDS Day
Speaking at the an event hosted by the regional organisation at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Headquarters, Director of PANCAP’s Coordinating Unit Dereck Springer explained that over the years, much emphasis has been placed on treatment with little or no efforts on promoting prevention.
According to Springer, much has been achieved over the years with regards to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, including the fact that some 52 per cent of persons living with the disease in the Region have access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.
However, the PANCAP official explained that while strides are being made, much more can be and needs to be done particularly in the area of prevention. On this note, Springer urges persons to look at practices which may put them at risk of contracting the deadly disease and take prevention measures.
“Everyone of us, has an opportunity to be able to do our own introspection and to determine what might be making us vulnerable to HIV and if we recognised that there are vulnerabilities and risks in our lives that we take steps to ensure that we addressed those,” he stated.
Springer further outlined the importance of stakeholders working together to promote HIV prevention education. He added that as the Region scales up its efforts to achieve the United Nations (UN) aspiration goal of ending AIDS by 2030, PANCAP is committed to working along with Caribbean countries to get additional finances in order to achieve that goal.
In fact, the PANCAP official disclosed that the Caribbean is poised to become the first Region in the world to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV, with Cuba having done so already.
“We have to recognise that the Caribbean can blaze the trail in this regard. However, the Caribbean has a lot of work to do in relation to addressing stigma and discrimination which serve as barriers to individual access to treatment, care and support services, primarily, for persons who are from key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, young people, remigrant workers who are at increased risks because of their vulnerabilities,” Springer noted.
Meanwhile, Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Dr Manorma Soeknandan, in brief remarks outlined that in order to achieve the UN’s aspiration goal to end AIDS by 2030, individuals need to start practicing and taking prevention measures in order to prevent transmission of the deadly disease.
“Are we responsible enough? Do we want to change our attitude and behaviour? So long as we don’t want to do it, it’s not going to end. We often forget that if we do not change, despite their support, we often forget what sacrifices our families have to go through and bare because of us not wanting to change our behaviour and attitude,” Soeknandan stated.
During the event, the contribution and support of persons living with HIV/AIDs were also highlighted, with calls made for continuous support for persons infected.
On this note, several food hampers were handed over the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), whose Manager, Dr Rhonda Moore, explained that these contributions go a long way in supporting HIV/AIDS victims. She disclosed that as of June this year, the National Food Bank has already distributed over 2200 food hampers.
“We have had patients who have given testimonies as to how much the supplies given by the Food Bank has done towards their rehabilitation process and changing their lives. We all know that HIV and nutrition are very important and a balanced healthy diet goes a long way in aiding the reconstitution of the immune system,” she remarked as she encourages the continuation of such donations.
HIV/AIDS is said to be one of the most destructive pandemics in history, with over 35 million people having died of HIV or AIDS and an estimated 34 million living with the virus.
