Georgetown: National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh has disclosed that approximately 7700 persons in Guyana were infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2013.
The disclosure was made on Thursday at Moray House, during a panel discussion on HIV/AIDS, organised by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).
Dr Singh explained that the figure was generated using a software that the United Nations Programme of AIDS (UNAIDS) provided to countries across the world to calculate the prevalence of HIV.
The figure represents 1.4 per cent of the country’s population in 2013. Additionally, according to the statistical report, 5.5 per cent of the 7700 were commercial sex workers while another 4.8 per cent were men who had sex with men.
However, Dr Singh pointed out that the initially, Guyana’s transgender statistics showed a prevalence of 8.9 per cent.
“That has become a really prioritised population that we’re working with, so with a prevalence of 8.9 per cent, that’s close to 9 per cent, we have also started revisiting our strategies in terms of how we address this specific population and to understand the transgender population which has a much higher prevalence.”
Additionally, she said records show that children are often left behind in this regard. “More children are being infected with HIV but they are not on antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs… (although) the survival rates of children are lower than adults.”
On that note, she said much work needs to be done to ensure children are not neglected. “We will be relooking at our paediatric programme and our adolescent programmes…so over the next year, we will aim to provide supportive supervision and mentoring to make sure they provide ARVs and appropriate management for these children,” she said.
Director of the National Care and Treatment Centre, Dr Ruth Ramos noted that access to treatment and testing has increased over the years. Nevertheless, she asserted that more needs to be done. “Our greatest challenge is the adherence to medication and keeping people on care.”
Dr Ramos explained that many people ignore the risks they face simply because they look and feel well. She said too there are still a significant number of mother-to-child transmissions which they are aiming to decrease.
With evaluations being conducted on an annual basis, a statistical report highlighting the country’s 2014 status will be revealed in May.
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