Get tested!

Know your status!

Testing is the quintessential prerequisite of prevention, says Dr. Edward Greene, UN Special Envoy on HIV to the Caribbean.

His call came during the 10th Anniversary of the Regional Testing Day Launch and Awards Breakfast, hosted by LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance with support from Scotiabank in collaboration with the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), at the Hilton Barbados Resort, yesterday.

Of great concern for this region, he said, is the finding in the 2016 UNAIDS Gap Report that after ten years of decline in the prevalence rate, the Caribbean has witnessed a nine per cent overall increase in new infections – second to Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“While the major increases have occurred in Cuba and Jamaica, the alarm is mainly due to the fact that progress in stopping the new infections has stalled among adults and increasing among older age groups in some countries.”

Dr. Greene revealed that the successes claimed by the region are in reducing Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) from 450 000 in 2005 to 285 000 to 2015, reducing the number of deaths by 40-60 per cent and increasing the number of PLHIV on treatments from under 10 per cent to almost 50 per cent.

“In addition, the indicators are that CARICOM could be the first region in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission. Indeed, Barbados and the OECS countries are near the qualification target and about four other countries are in close range…”

However, the UN Special Envoy on HIV stressed that despite these successes, the region is far from being able to claim victory, pointing out that rates vary from a high of 1.8 per cent PLHIV in Haiti and 1.6 per cent in Jamaica to less than 1 per cent in Barbados and the OECS.

“However, less than 50 per cent of PLHIV in the region are receiving treatment. Cuba has the highest coverage with 67 per cent and Jamaica the lowest with 32 per cent. In addition, it is estimated that two out of every five persons in the region do not know their status.”

The Hon. Richard Sealy, on behalf of the Government of Barbados, lauded the LIVE UP co-ordinated campaign, which has changed the Caribbean health promotion and media landscape and made a significant contribution to the HIV response in the region.

“I think that the elements of the campaign that we need to highlight are education and empowerment … having patients understand what they are managing and dealing with – that it is not a death sentence; if managed you can live a perfectly normal life.

“The government of Barbados is committed to the LIVE UP campaign and of course committed to seeing that Regional Testing Day is a success. I encourage everyone to know their status; get tested,” he urged.

On behalf of the Hon. Mia Mottley, Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Sonia Browne, expressed that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is committed to sending the message that the issue of HIV/AIDS unites us as a people and HIV has no political agenda or affiliation.

“We remain resolute in our mission to build a better society. We support national and regional strategies that address stigma, discrimination and behavioural change… We support the decentralisation of testing and treatments centres. The BLP remains committed to the expansion of HIV/AIDS education in our school system, embracing students, teachers and parents alike, thereby promoting behaviour change at the community level.

"We are committed to strengthening existing legislation to protect the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS. The Barbados Labour Party will continue to stand by the LIVE UP campaign slogan – 'Love, Protect and Respect' as we embark on a journey towards global elimination of HIV/AIDS,” Dr. Browne said.

This year’s Regional Testing Day is slated for June 30. (TL)