Mother-to-child HIV transmission down

Noting that today marks World AIDS Day 2016, Theodore-Gandi yesterday told a training workshop on maternal mortality at the Hilton Trinidad, “We must remember that while the virus is potent, the evidence and knowledge gained to prevent HIV is even more so.” Eliminating AIDS by 2030 worldwide in keeping with the UNAIDS objective, she said, “rests in our hands. We must, however, act on the evidence to do so.” She pointed to the steady reduction in HIV mother-to-child transmission in TT over the past decade, and said PAHO/WHO looks forward to continued work with the Ministry of Health to certify the elimination of motherto- child transmission in the near future.

Her organisation, she said, anticipates ongoing cooperation with the ministry and regional health authorities to strengthen TT’s capacity to test and treat HIV in keeping with WHO’s 2015 guidelines to further stymie its spread and to end AIDS by 2030.

Also addressing the issue, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said that to achieve the 2030 target it was imperative that the “90-90-90” sub-target of UNAIDS be first achieved by 2020.

TT has signed on to the 90-90-90 sub-target, he said.

He explained that the sub-target means that 90 percent of all people living with HIV must know their HIV status, 90 percent of all those with diagnosed HIV infection must receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90 percent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy must achieve viral suppression and should be considered AIDS free by 2020