11,500 living with HIV/AIDS

Speaking yesterday after the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) hosted Knowledge Synthesis and Best Practices workshop, at the Hyatt Regency, Deyalsingh said by 2020 they can reach the 90-90-90 target. This mean to ensure that 90 percent of the infected are tested and diagnosed, getting 90 percent of those who are diagnosed on treatment with antiretroviral drugs, and aiming to have at least 90 percent of those infected attain an undetectable level of virus in their bodies (essentially a functional cure).

“Right now that figure is 75 percent, so we are not far from achieving that. Off that percentage would know their status, and should be on treatment, 90 percent of those by 2020 having been aggressively treated should have their viral loads suppression down to a point where they can be considered free of the virus, that is the challenging bit, we are about 50 percent there from now,” Deyalsingh explained.

He said the workshop this morning (yesterday) brings together the experts in the field to drive the 90-90-90 target. Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer, stated that, “the workshop will avoid routine training presentations and instead focus on encouraging Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) and National AIDS Programme (NAP) managers to work together through highly interactive knowledge sharing sessions.

“We are placing emphasis on sustainability of HIV programming.

It is imperative that all CSO and NAP Managers be equipped with tools necessary for sustaining such programmes through greater efficiencies and cost effectiveness.” Meanwhile, Executive Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition Dr J Carolyn Gomes indicated that civil society plays a critical role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in attempting to get the 90-90-90 target.

She said before there were national AIDS committees, Ministry of Health evolvement, civil society was providing the support, care, treatment, consoling, information and even information to people suffering from HIV and dying from Aids at that time.

“They are now providing not only consultation, caring, information and testing services but also in some cases are providing treatment. There can be no doubt that we will not be able to move forward effectively to end AIDS, to even reach the 90-90-90 that is the target that would allow us to end AIDS if we do not involve on an equal and respectful basis the knowledge, experience, and skills that civil society can bring to the table to reach the vulnerable population,” she said.