Guyana on path to zero new HIV infections by 2020

– Dr Ramsammy tells Washington conference

By Samuel Sukhnandan in WasShington

International HIV/AIDS advocate and former Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy told delegates of the 19th International AIDS conference being held in Washington DC that Guyana is pursuing a trajectory of eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2020, as outlined in its strategic plan. Minister Ramsammy said Guyana has also firmly denounced efforts by some persons to criminalise HIV transmission, while creating a level playing field. Dr Ramsammy was at the time addressing a regional workshop that focused on the work being done and successes made in fighting HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean region.

According to the former health minister, criminalising HIV transmission has not been proven to prevent the spread of HIV; has not demonstrated any public health benefit, nor have these laws been shown to significantly affect sexual conduct or reduce risky behaviour.
He said rights-based sexual and reproductive health education and services and empowering young people to prevent sexual and other transmissions of HIV among their peers must be inculcated in schools’ curriculum.
“I am proud to say that Guyana has turned the tide. And Guyana is today confident that we can pursue a trajectory of elimination in our strategy to 2020,” Dr Ramsammy said.
Guyana, he said is on a path to achieving a collective goal of having zero new infections, zero stigma and discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero mother to child transmission by 2020.
Guyana’s progress in part has resulted from strong political will and commitment, and a willingness to frontally address social and cultural norms that serve as a driver of the HIV epidemic. Dr Ramsammy said, “Guyana has been confronting issues such as sex, drugs, discrimination, domestic violence and gender issues.”
He told delegates that Guyana has made progress in implementing new legislation to offer more protection to women who encounter sexual abuse and has established several units to deal with social issues that are linked to HIV/AIDS infection, among several other avenues.
Dr Ramsammy admitted that while there are several new institutions in place to tackle the fight of the pandemic, Guyana, like most of its Caricom sister countries, still has outdated laws which the United Nations (UN) considers transphobic and homophobic.
He told delegates at the AIDS conference that the Guyana government recently started a national consultation addressing the discriminalisation of homosexuality and sex workers. He noted that homosexuality practice in all Caricom countries has proven to be an emotive and politically explosive issue, which remains highly debated even until now.
“The government is not only consulting on this matter widely in Guyana, but is introducing a motion for Parliament to establish a Special Select Committee to examine the matter,” he said. Guyana, he noted has wrestled mightily with the issue of personal freedom that is at the very heart of stigma and discrimination that still exists and still drives the HIV pandemic.
On that note, Dr Ramsammy said he believes there are additional things that must be put in place to maximise preventive efforts and ensure universal coverage for prevention, treatment and care.
In terms of AIDS cases, Guyana recorded an average of about 500 cases, annually, up to 2003. In 2011, this dropped to 40 new AIDS cases. “The treatment programme with antiretroviral medicines is working, and working well, preventing the progression from HIV to AIDS,” Dr Ramsammy opined.
In terms of mortality due to AIDS, this has been reducing every year since 2002. In 2002, AIDS-related deaths accounted for 9.5 per cent of all deaths. This was reduced to 4.7 per cent by the end of 2008.
Presently, more than 3500 persons are in Guyana’s HIV/ AIDS treatment programme and are being treated with ARVs. Another 1500 persons are being managed, although they have not yet been recommended by their physicians to start ARV treatment. At the end of 2011, approximately 300 persons were being treated with second line ARVs. In addition, close to 1200 persons are receiving treatment and care through an innovative home-based care programme in Guyana.
Youth, women of childbearing age, commercial sex workers, mobile populations such as miners and loggers, and men-who-have-sex with men have been identified as among those most at risk of contracting HIV in Guyana.
HIV/AIDS poses a significant socio-economic challenge for the country. It is a developmental issue, and since Guyana is recovering from decades of underdevelopment, HIV/AIDS represents a major barrier to overcoming underdevelopment and, further, HIV/AIDS can lead to regression from gains made in the last decade.