HIV prevalent among transgendered, gays & prisoners – Health Minister

In the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), addressing stigma and discrimination remains paramount and will see legal professionals, healthcare experts, and activists developing strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for those affected by these conditions.
In doing so, the Guyana National Judges’ Forum on HIV, Human Rights, and the Law was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, and focused on the judiciary’s role in protecting human rights and promoting public health.
During his opening remarks, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony highlighted the existing gap between the number of people in Guyana who know their HIV status and those receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. He discussed how stigma and discrimination prevent individuals from seeking necessary care.

Dr. Anthony stressed that tackling HIV and AIDS requires both medical advancements and social reforms. These include implementing progressive laws and policies, increasing education and awareness, and reducing stigma to enhance access to care and treatment.
“HIV is in the past, it is no longer a death sentence due to modern treatments that suppress viral levels, preventing the spread of the infection,” he stated. He described HIV as a chronic illness but noted that men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and the prison population “continue to bear the disproportionate burden of the HIV infection.”
Dr. Anthony provided alarming statistics: by the end of 2023, HIV prevalence was 1.2 percent among the general Caribbean population but significantly higher among key populations. “For transgender individuals, the prevalence was 29.4 per cent. For men who have sex with men, it was 11.8 per cent. For people in prison, it was 3.6 per cent, and among sex workers, it was 2.6 per cent,” he reported.

The Health Minister referenced the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and their 95-95-95 targets for testing, treatment, and viral suppression. He detailed the Caribbean’s progress: “85 per cent of persons living with HIV know their status. Of those, 83 per cent are on antiretrovirals. Of those on antiretrovirals, 87 per cent are virally suppressed. In Guyana, 94 per cent of persons living with HIV know their status. However, only 72 per cent of those who know their status are on treatment, and 87 per cent of those on treatment are virally suppressed.”
Despite the availability of free treatment at all health facilities in Guyana, Dr. Anthony noted a “big discrepancy” between those who know their status and those on ARVs. He attributed this 20 per cent gap to stigma and discrimination, explaining that fear prevents many from seeking care at known health facilities. “If they don’t come, they can get complications and eventually die of HIV,” he warned.
Dr. Anthony also mentioned challenges in accessing affordable treatment in the private sector and described efforts to train primary healthcare workers to provide HIV treatment and address stigma and discrimination. He discussed new prevention methods, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and injectables.
The Health Minister called for the repeal of outdated laws to further reduce stigma and discrimination. “This is something we need to really focus on and review,” he said, expressing hope that these revisions will help achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030. Overall, he noted the substantial strides made in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS over the past four decades.