HIV/AIDS elimination is focus of new National Strategic Plan

The Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat today launched the new HIV National Strategic Plan, which focuses on eliminating HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

During the virtual launch of the new National HIV/AIDS Strategic plan, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony noted the country’s successes over the years.

Despite moving up the ladder to tackle HIV/AIDS, the Minister noted that there is still more work to be done.

“There is still a lot of work to be done; over the next 5 years if we are going to get the 2020 target and move beyond that to achieve what we aspire for 2025. To get to this target, it might look like a simple number to achieve, but there is a lot of underlying work that we have to do,” Anthony emphasised.

He further highlighted that Guyana continues to face challenges with the UNAIDS 90/90/90 goals. This is where at least 90 per cent of the population knows their status, 90 per cent are on treatment, and 90 per cent stay on treatment.

According to the Health Minister, 94% of the population in Guyana knows their status. However, only 73% of the population are on treatment, and 75% stay on treatment.

This means Guyana still has a lot of work to be done if we are going to get to the 2020 target and move beyond that to achieve what we aspire for in 2025. “One of our challenges over the years is that we would have had stock-outs of medicine, and therefore when we do have stock-outs of medicine it interferes with her treatment and care programme. Anthony stated.

Meanwhile, Dereck Springer, a consultant attached to the MOH explained that some issues which the Secretariat face are dysfunctional coordination structures, high level of discrimination resulting in gender-based violence and death, high level of follow up, increase in AIDS  mortality among others.