Guyana on track to halt HIV/ AIDS epidemic by 2015 – Hinds

The Millennium Development Goal for HIV/ AIDS is clear: To halt and begin to reverse the epidemic by 2015 and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has stated clearly that Guyana is on track towards this achievement and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission in 2015.
As the Health Ministry began its observances of World AIDS Day with an interfaith gathering at the Umana Yana, Hinds called for more numbers to be drawn into combating the disease.
Though the event was sparsely attended, he urged the religious leaders and representatives of various organisations and groups present to pass the message on.
In keeping with the theme for World AIDS Day 2012, “Getting to Zero”, Hinds explained that it meant “Zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths”. He further stated that Guyana should be proud that “we are on track to achieve the zeros”. The tireless work and drive in this area by health personnel and others is intended to ensure that no baby is born HIV-infected, he stated.
Persons living with HIV continue to access high quality services and high quality anti- retroviral medication, which has resulted in persons living longer and healthier lives, and fewer deaths related to AIDS. New infections continue to decrease as efforts intensify in targeting the population most at risk.
The prime minister said the HIV stigma is less than before, and called for a recommitment towards the reduction of the stigma, noting that persons living with HIV have the same needs and expectations as others.
Prime Minister Hinds stated that the current ongoing national testing drive is testimony to Guyana’s commitment “to bringing an end to this epidemic and to creating a next generation free of AIDS”.
National AIDS Programme Secretariat Programme Manager Dr Shanti Singh, also called for an intensification of efforts towards moving Guyana to an AIDS-free destination of zero AIDS infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.
Dr Singh confidently stated that the benchmark of zero could be achieved. “Now our patients are coming earlier and living longer, we have seen exposed babies born without infection and marvelled with infected mothers at the power of medicine and the magic of life,” she stated.
Commending the staff of NAPS she said, “We were faced with challenges at times, we were tested, but we never failed to fight.” “Getting to zero is possible because of the great commitment and partnership in our country,” Dr Singh said.
UNAIDS Country Director Dr Roberto Campos delivered the message of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who stated that “half the global reductions in new HIV infections in the last two years have been among new-born babies”.
The UN secretary general urged member states to intensify their efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmissions and to work to ensure all HIV- positive mothers can survive and thrive, something that is already being done in Guyana.
He also urged stronger efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination to make information, testing and treatment available to all.