CARPHA: Ending AIDS requires major effort

The theme for World AIDS Day 2016, observed yesterday, was “Take the Challenge: End AIDS.” This involves strengthening the response for HIV and taking innovative steps so that the region can reach the global goals and end the epidemic by 2030, Hospedales said. To end HIV transmission, he said, the focus should be on HIV combination prevention, early detection and access to antiretroviral treatment.

“To end AIDS as a public health threat,” he said, “our combined efforts are important.

It is therefore critical for us to have a multi-sectoral approach involving community participation.” The community, he said, “must play its role in advocacy, the fight against stigma and discrimination, and support those affected and prevent others from being infected. By strengthening community participation and working together we can end this epidemic.” He said that, “HIV/AIDS is not just a serious health issue in the Caribbean, it also impacts negatively on the economy and our social life. Let us all take the challenge to end AIDS.” A CARPHA release said that many of the obstacles that have impeded effective HIV prevention and treatment still exist today.

The Caribbean is still has the second highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, after Sub-Sahara Africa. One in three persons with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean do not know that they have it which can only result in its further spread, and undermine measures that have been put in place to end the epidemic.

It was important CARPHA said, that everyone should know their HIV status and ensure it is managed properly to prevent the spread of new infections.

Factors that can decrease someone’s chance of getting or transmitting HIV include HIV testing, HIV drugs for persons at high risk for HIV infection, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and the use of female and male condoms.

For persons infected with HIV, an important measure to prevent transmission to others, is to stay on treatment, the release said.