CARICOM SG: Focus on HIV combination prevention

Treatment for HIV in the region was 52 percent in 2016 compared to less than 5 percent in 2001, he said in a release to mark World AIDS Day 2016.

The new infections, LaRocque said, is a cause for concern given that the 2014 UNAIDS Global AIDS Report lauded the Caribbean for achieving the sharpest regional reduction in HIV incidence by 49 percent.

Noting that this year’s World AIDS Day was being observed under the theme, ‘Hands up for #HIV Prevention’, he said, the increase in infections calls for increased focus to be placed on combination prevention that includes treatment, behaviour change, communication, and provision of social protection to address individuals’ vulnerability.

As external donor funding to support regional and national response to HIV continues to decrease amid the call for greater emphasis on ‘test and treat’ in keeping the World Health Organisation 2015 Treatment Guidelines which states that people who are diagnosed HIV positive should be placed on treatment early, La- Rocque said, evidence shows that the earlier people living with HIV start antiretroviral treatment, they have better health outcomes.

To achieve UNAIDS goal of ending AIDS by 2030, he urged the international donor community to support the regional response to eliminate HIV and AIDS. “It is a matter of urgency that we fill remaining gaps in funding to assist in ending the AIDS epidemic in the Region,” he said.