Persons with HIV in Guyana are living longer lives, have a better quality of life, less morbidity and are back in the productive workforce, according to the findings of an evaluation of the National Strategic Plan 2007-2011, looking at the area of care and treatment.
Staff of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and stakeholders on Thursday, at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara, assessed the findings of an evaluation of the National Strategic Plan 2007-2001 and commenced planning for the HIVision 2020 that is a nine-year strategic plan that will take the secretariat through the period 2012-2020, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.
NAPS Programme Manager, Dr. Shanti Singh stated that she was pleased to report that the secretariat has achieved what it has set out to in that plan.
“I think from an impact level we have seen the impact we have made, the prevalence has reduced from the inception of the plan from over two percent to approximately one percent at the end of 2011,” she said.
Dr. Singh explained that as the preparation for the new plan commences there are several things that need to be taken into consideration: firstly, new evidence states that treatment is prevention.
“Across the world as we all begin to rethink prevention, it is important that we place treatment as a priority in addressing prevention issues.”
However, Dr. Singh also noted that while there has been a reduction in HIV/AIDS prevalence, it has been recognised that the more ‘at risk’ populations are coming out as one of the main drivers of the epidemic, and as prevention tactics are being reorganised, strategies that address the general population must now move towards more intensively catering for the more at risk population.
She acknowledged that globally and locally there is the issue of financial resources and support to the programme.
“We have received from the Global Fund an invitation for a phase two proposal to the HIV RCC grant and it is very clear that as we go forward into this new plan that we seriously consider the issue of sustainability and, that value for money really guides what would be documented and what would be charted as the way forward in moving towards the vision of 2020,” she highlighted.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary, Health, Joseph Hamilton identified television personalities, like Desiree Edghill, who had been informing and educating the Guyanese public about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) long before NAPS came into being, and has caused citizens to pay attention to the ramification of HIV/AIDS in Guyana. He applauded those persons who have been advocating this cause for the last decade.
Hamilton emphasised that during the planning phase for the next strategic plan, the government’s role must be considered and this is in light of the fact that donor funds are drying up due to the economic situation of countries.
