Rahael addresses UN on TT AIDS response

“TT remains committed to stronger efforts to combat stigma and discrimination against those infected by HIV and those vulnerable to the epidemic, through legislative and social reform,” Rahael said in his address to the United Nations (UN) meeting held last Friday in New York.

He said small countries faced special challenges, but TT was committed to expanding treatment access to all areas across the country and providing necessary attention to improved sexual and reproductive health of young women and all citizens.

Rahael told the gathering that persons living with HIV will have “meaningful participation” in the national response. He said culture and national icons were being used to fight stigma and discrimination and achieve positive change.

Rahael said progress was made in building a multi-sectoral response to the disease but acknowledged efforts must be scaled-up to match the epidemic.

He highlighted the “successes” in TT’s battle against HIV/AIDS saying AIDS mortality was down by 60 percent, the incidence of AIDS was down by 48 percent and HIV infection decreased by 16 percent from peak levels.

He identified four main factors contributing to this success — an increased commitment to the HIV/AIDS response at all levels of society including the highest levels of Government; mobilisation of financial, technical and human resources were mobilised and there was strong public-private partnerships; improvement in coordination across all sectors and capacity-building with the non-governmental organisations.

He said Government recognised that a sustained and comprehensive response to HIV was critical if TT is to realise “bright prospects for economic and social development.”