More research needed to better guide policymakers and activists

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Statistics show that Guyana was able to reduce the HIV/ AIDS figures. One could even go as far to say that we are winning the battle against the dreaded disease. But I believe that this progress has led to complacency at every level of dealing with the disease, and what is even worse is that even those who are infected do not seem to care much about taking the relevant treatment and to maintain a healthy lifestyle, etc.

A few weeks ago we were told by no other than the head of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat that people are being tested, but they are being complacent when it comes to getting treatment at the various centres set up across the country. What is the reason for this, and was there any research done to better guide policymakers in this regard?

In particular, it was revealed that the level of complacency amongst Guyanese affected by HIV has risen over the past few years. Now this is a very interesting observation which should cause the country’s Health Ministry and AIDS activists to take urgent steps and do something to change the situation.

For sure, more work will need to be done as it relates to treatment and care for infected patients. All over the world, ARVs have proven to help patients live longer and healthier lives. It could be that some persons are still ignorant of the need to take the treatment and certainly we would need to change habits as we risk more persons dying at an early stage of having the disease.

In the meantime, I wish to say that NAPS has provided some very useful information on the status of Guyana’s response to HIV/ AIDS. Hopefully there would be more detailed scientific research to complement such findings so that policymakers and practitioners would be better guided.

 

Yours truly,

S Gopaul

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