Guyana committed to eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030 – Dr Norton

Guyana stands in solidarity with the rest of the world as it takes on the challenge of completely eliminating the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic by 2030, according to Minister of Health Dr George Norton.

Dr Norton made this commitment while addressing a United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on ending AIDS in New York on Wednesday.

Noting that Guyana will spare no effort in working to reduce the number of victims and deaths, the minister shed light on the 2016 Political Declaration which his ministry will implement as a guide to end the epidemic.

With the factors to curb the prevalence of the virus at arms’ length, Norton assured that ending the AIDS epidemic as a public threat by 2030 is definitely within the country’s reach. To this extent, he added that a national stakeholder’s response would be essential, as well as the use of resources and a change in the course of action over the years.

“This will depend on the strong solidarity and shared commitment of all stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the mobilisation of the requisite resources to sustain our common efforts at all levels. It will require a radical change of the trajectory over the next five years, recognising the multidimensional nature of the challenge,” the minister reminded.

Norton noted that the Guyana Health Vision 2020 has been serving its intended function as a framework for the national health response.

Present within this framework, he added, is the HIVision 2020, which can be credited for the reduction of deaths due to HIV/AIDS as well as the prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT).

Dr Norton explained that the vision emphasises on major principles that are to be considered when fighting a virus as widespread and devastating as HIV/AIDS. He mentioned that the government, on realising this, had crafted the vision under these guidelines.

“Its goal is to reduce the social and economic impact of HIV and AIDS on individuals and communities and ultimately the development of the country. It focuses on five priority areas: Coordination; Prevention; Treatment, Care and Support; Integration and Strategic Information,” the Minister stated.

As the HIVision has become integrated into Guyana’s national response to the virus, the results thus far have been in sync with the government’s target, according to Dr Norton.

According to statistics, Guyana had recorded 3.4 per cent of its population had been living with the virus in 2004, which had then reduced to 1.4 per cent in 2013.

In 2014, the cases further decreased with 751 persons being infected as opposed to 758 in 2013. However, these figures were at its worst in 2009 when a total of 1176 cases were recorded.

“This achievement can be attributed to a combination of factors, chief among them being actions taken at the policy and programmatic levels to realise a comprehensive approach to ending the epidemic locally. An increase in access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) has also been instrumental in our success,” the minister stated. In addition to these factors, the establishment on programmes within the region with more emphasis on youth involvement has contributed to the tumbling rates, according to Dr Norton.

These programmes focused on counselling, reproductive health education, information, education and communication which are vital factors when considering a national response to the virus.

However,despite Guyana’s persistence in combating the virus, inevitably a number of obstacles have been stumbled upon with the primary one being financial constraints.

Nonetheless, the country remains unyielding in achieving the goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS.