Residents of Regions Six yesterday participated in a grand rally, led by Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in observance of World AIDS Day. The march moved along Main Street to the New Amsterdam Hospital where a ceremony reflected Guyana’s contributions to reducing the spread and effect of HIV/AIDS on Guyanese.

Persons who participated included representatives of the private sector, civic society, non-governmental organisations and the health sector.

&As we observe World AIDS Day 2007, I am confident that we can win the battle against HIV. As we look back in time, Guyanese and our partners can reflect on the many successes in the fight against HIV that we have achieved in the last several years. This year, as we continue to focus on keeping the promise, we also highlight the important role of leadership and that is something that this Government has not failed to do,” Minister Ramsammy said.

He added that Guyana has a genuine multi-sector approach to the fight against HIV and that yesterday’s activity has demonstrated that approach.

&Even though the Ministry of Health remains in the lead role in confronting HIV, we must feel a sense of pride that as a country, Guyana has succeeded in crafting a strategy in which various sectors are playing significant roles and civic society is a major participant,” the Minister said.

The growing partnership in preventing and controlling HIV has now expanded to providing social support to families affected by HIV.

Several support programmes were initiated, including one to provide housing to some persons affected by HIV. The partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Housing and Water and the World Bank has resulted in five persons obtaining titles to house lots, through a lottery mechanism.

Further partnerships between the Ministry of Health and PEPFAR, through GHARP, Food For The Poor and Habitat for Humanity would result in the five families having their own homes.

In 2007, there were programmes that provided monthly financial support for more than 200 persons living with HIV. This is a programme that involves partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Services.

More than 800 persons are also benefitting from the Food Bank located at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat of the Ministry of Health.

All orphanages and other facilities that house children with HIV in Guyana are being upgraded as the administration is committed to ensuring that no child affected by HIV should be without a home.

?There is much to reflect on and much for us to be proud of as we observe 2007. But we also realise that World AIDS Day 2007 cannot be a celebration. There is much more we would need to accomplish and so it is that I would want all of us to also commit to what could be achieved in 2008,” Minister Ramsammy said.

For 2008, there are several targets to be achieved by the Health Ministry and its partners in winning the battle against HIV/AIDS. These include:

• Guyana must increase Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission coverage from 80 per cent to universal 100 per cent in 2008

• Every child born to an HIV+ mother must have an HIV test to determine the child’s HIV status by 12 weeks of birth. At present, children’s HIV status can only be definitively determined after 18 months.

• National Testing Day to be extended from one day to two days and the target to be increased to 6,000 tests.

• More than 50 per cent of Guyanese who are sexually active to know their HIV status.

• More than 5,000 persons living with HIV to be part of the treatment and care programme and more than 2,500 persons living with HIV to be on Anti-retroviral treatment.

• Every person living with HIV to have a CD4 count at least twice per year.

• Every person tested positive for HIV, must have a TB screening.

• Every person diagnosed with TB must have an HIV test.

• Guyana’s blood collection to exceed 7,500 units and more than 3,600 units must be from voluntary donation.

• More than 90 per cent of Guyanese must be made aware of the different ways that HIV is transmitted. (GINA)