Rahael: AIDS drugs for 6,000 by 2008

THE MINISTRY of Health hopes that at least 6,000 HIV/AIDS patients will receive Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) treatment and a further 12,000 will be “in care” by 2008. The ministry also expects to reduce the age at which can determines whether a baby is HIV positive and to get same day results for Voluntary Counselling Testing (VCT). These expectations are contained in the health sector work plan for HIV/AIDS, which was launched yesterday by the Minister of Health, John Rahael. The cost of implementing the plan is estimated at $37.8 million, financed by government through a World Bank loan together with other donor agencies. In launching the comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programme at the Hilton Trinidad, Rahael said even with all the education programmes on preventing the spread of the virus, there was no effect on the prevalence of the epidemic, but with all the strategies in place the ministry hopes the rate of infections would not increase.

He said as of December last year, the National Surveillance Unit reported “13,045 HIV cases in Trinidad and Tobago, but because there were unreported cases, the actual number may range between 18,000 to 20,000.” He said the health sector plan was derived from the national strategic plan, but the former was the key implementation agency for four of the priority areas, namely prevention, treatment care and support, advocacy and human rights and surveillance and research. Rahael said there were several strategic objectives under prevention, which included promotion of a sexual abstinence campaign in secondary schools and the creation of abstinence clubs. He said, “We cannot have our ten and 12-year-olds being sexually active, and I am positive if we get the young ones to control their emotions then we can develop a citizen who can lead a productive life.” There are also plans to develop an HIV programme in the prisons.