Source: Guyana Chronicle, 16th, April 2008

Despite all the negative outpourings by some members of our society, our Health Sector has been doing extremely well over the years, so much so, that in the fight against the killer disease HIV/AIDS, we have been able to make tremendous strides. With the limited resources at its disposal, both human and financial, Guyana, under the stewardship of Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, is still able to record its relentless battle against this killer, as a success story.

The Guyanese people view this success story as an achievement resulting from dint of hard work and persistence by Minister Ramsammy and his team of health workers, who have laboured unceasingly over the years in the fight against the dreaded HIV/AIDS and make all Guyana proud.

We note with appreciation the role of the trade union movement in Guyana in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other government and non-governmental organizations and groups and individuals who are so selflessly involved to put Guyana on track in the fight against the disease.

The fight against HIV/AIDS in Guyana has known no boundaries and all are involved in efforts to keep it under manageable proportions, and it is against this backdrop that we congratulate the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) for hosting a five-day workshop on Monday at the union’s headquarters for the training of counselors in HIV/AIDS.

Guyanese hail this move by the GLU to host the five-day workshop which they see as an added impetus in the fight against the killer disease. The workshop is part of efforts by the GLU in executing a Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control sub-project for the Government of Guyana and is funded by the World Bank.

Guyanese note the enthusiasm of Health Minister Ramsammy, who, during his opening

address at the seminar said that Guyana has demonstrated unequivocally that it is possible to confront a scourge like HIV even in a poor resource setting

We note that the work done over the years by health workers in sensitizing young people and workers has borne fruit and today they have knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

Guyana has come a long and hard way, but it has paid off, for there has been a reversal in the trend of the disease since people were enlightened about the dangers and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The reversal figures speak volumes for themselves and point the way forward to keeping Guyana on track.

In a study among pregnant women before year 2000, up to seven percent were tested positive, while at the end of 2007, the prevalence was 1.4 percent. Another survey carried out in 2001 among commercial sex workers showed between 45-48 percent were positive, while in 2006 the prevalence was about 25 percent. Prior to 2001 various studies among miners showed that between seven and eleven percent of that mobile community were tested positive, while in 2006 this was reduced to 3.9 percent.

These figures are clear indications that the ongoing campaign against HIV/AIDS is taking a grip on society, and more and more people are becoming sensitive to the dangers of the dreaded killer disease.

One has to be appreciative of the work being put in by health workers and other individuals and organization who spare no effort in sensitising people at the work place, institutions, clubs and union halls among other places and making them more aware of the dangers of HIVAIDS.

The collective effort by all has helped tremendously in keeping down the spread of HIV/AIDS in our country. We must now move on to achieve greater results.

Bravo Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy, health workers, individuals, organizations –government and non-governmental and trade unions for a job well done!