The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) in recognising a greater need for public education on HIV/AIDS and its Voluntary Counselling and Treatment (VCT) Services, is seeking to explore various avenues that will allow effective transfer of information on both topics. This was shared at a media engagement at the Secretariat on Monday.
Deputy Programme Manager at NAPS, Dr Nicolette Boatswain pointed out that the Secretariat will seek to re-establish a stronger interaction with persons as it relates to the sharing of HIV information. This is critical as recent statistics show some 8200 persons infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) while some 500 new infections surfaced in Guyana mainly from key populations and young people.
Nevertheless, this widely used remedy will be complemented with its continued training and awareness programmes in schools as well as its newest behavioural change communications strategy being developed.
“I recognise that there is a need for strengthening in terms of sensitisation and awareness, there has to be a resurgence of our interaction with fellow Guyanese in terms of HIV information…We are also on the way to developing a behavioural change communications strategy which we see is needed so I agree, but steps are being taken…our programme has always incorporated in the prevention aspect of its training or sensitisation for in and out of schools,” Boatswain explained.
On the other hand, the deputy programme manager highlighted that the new trend of persons sharing HIV results on social media takes away the confidentiality and reduced stigma offered through VCT services.
“The programme is concerned at the increasing trend of members of the public posting their HIV test results on social media, doing this may add rather than take away from the stigma so many persons still endure”
This is evident as stats revealed a constant decrease in persons accessing the VCT service over the period 2017 to 2019.
Some 57,524 accessed the service in 2017, while 49,783 in 2018, and 45,313 in 2019.
