Social media awareness: A tool to end AIDS by 2030

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day and the day will focus on “Know your status”.
The importance of HIV prevention is reiterated each year as the international community bands together in observance of World AIDS Day on December 1.
The UNAIDS Latin America and Caribbean Regional Support Team Director, Dr Cesar Nuñez had some years ago explained that the community of nations committed to ending AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
HIV prevention is central to achieving this goal. At this moment in history, the world has at its disposal a combination of new science, evidence-based prevention strategies refined over more than 30 years, and the understanding that in order to succeed countries must ensure that no one is left behind.
Dr Nuñez made the statement against the backdrop that the Latin American region also has to continue to ensure that mother-to-child transmission is prevented, while emphasising the need for people to protect themselves during sexual activity.
While he underscored the point that “condoms still matter”, Dr Nuñez also stated that new HIV drugs are bolstering prevention of the fatal virus.
Some 55 per cent of people living with HIV live in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in Guyana, according to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, over 8500 persons are living with the virus.
The statistics released by the Public Health Ministry revealed that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) had recorded the highest number of new HIV cases in 2017. This was, however, just one of the disappointing and shocking revelations made, as the country has also seen an overall increase in HIV cases, owing to the fact that 705 were recorded in 2015, 855 in 2016, and a whopping 961 cases were confirmed in 2017. Trailing Region Four was Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) with 130 new cases of HIV in 2017. For the same year, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was documented as the region with the least number of cases, since a mere three persons were diagnosed with the virus there.
According to UNAIDS, to achieve the goal to end AIDS by 2030, significant investments and commitment are required. As Governments and Health Ministries strategise about how to achieve scale-up, it is important goals are feasible. In Latin America, Chile has already attained the treatment and viral suppression targets, while in the Caribbean, Barbados is on track to achieve the goals.
In Guyana, Health Ministry had announced that Guyana was on the “fast track” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal to end AIDS in 2030, since the country had intensified its efforts in reaching the 90-90-90 goal established by UNAIDS. By accelerating the response to HIV/AIDS in the Americas, the ambitious goal of reducing new HIV cases by 74 per cent by 2020 and reducing AIDS deaths in the region by 62 per cent could pave the way for the end of the epidemic in 2030.
However, this will require major attitudinal and behavioural changes in society, including changes with respect to fighting stigma and discrimination. The populace has a part to play in ensuring that all people are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, religion, ethnic background or creed. On Thursday, Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV&AIDS (PANCAP) also advocated for more emphasis on HIV prevention in healthcare campaigns and education initiatives. The organisation is leading the way in revitalising awareness of HIV prevention methods through a social media education initiative.
Since millions, especially young people, are using social media – Twitter, Facebook, etc – as a communication tool, this is an ideal platform to reach out to the younger generation to send the message of HIV prevention.
The overarching aim of the social media awareness initiative is to propagate messages related to HIV prevention among this young population.
Globally, there are an estimated 34 million people living with the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
Stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition.
World AIDS Day is important as it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.