As the world observes World AIDS Day today (Tuesday, December 1), the prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains high in the Caribbean, the second in the world after Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
The agency said in 2013, 250,000 adults and children were estimated to be living with the deadly disease in the Caribbean, and 12,000 new infections were projected for that same year.
In Dominica, the prevalence has been 0.75% with major success being reported in the prevention of Mother to Child-Transmission of the disease.
In an address on World AIDS Day, Health Minister, Dr. Kenneth Darroux said no babies have been born HIV-positive in Dominica during the period 2005-2013.
“In addition, our mortality rates have decreased significantly since the implementation of anti-retroviral therapy and we continue to provide support to all affected without exception,” he said.
But the statistics remain grim with the epidemic being male dominated in Dominica and the age group of 25 to 49 the most affected.
In 2014, 18 new cases were reported and so far for 2015, 13 new cases have been reported.
“However, our concern continues to be that our males are the ones that are most affected,” Health Educator at the National HIV/AIDS Response Program, Alison Samuel, said on state-owned DBS Radio.
She said the epidemic can be ended.
“We can accomplish that goal of ending the AIDS epidemic because if you are HIV-positive you do not have to progress to AIDS,” she stated. “You get into care, you are able to be placed on antiretrovirals which is the medication that you use to control the virus. It actually brings the virus to the point of suppression where you are unable to transmit it … as long as you do all of what the clinical team says to you, you can continue to live a quality productive life.”
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. C James Hospedales said, “the Region has recorded success in reducing deaths due to HIV/AIDS and in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”
However, he cautioned that “although significant gains have been made that have turned the tide against this globally devastating disease, challenges still remain, and efforts must continue to be made in order to sustain and improve upon the progress that has been achieved.”
The theme for World AIDS Day 2011 to 2015 has been “Getting to zero”.
This means zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination. Countries are encouraged to ensure that the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS are not violated and that discrimination on the basis of HIV and AIDS is not only reduced, but ultimately eliminated.
Dr. Hospedales said that “the only way to do this is to make sure that everyone knows their HIV status and ensures that their status is managed properly, in order to prevent the spread of new infections.”
He urged “if you are negative, stay negative by avoiding risk-taking activities. If you are positive, live positively, stay on treatment and disclose to your loved ones. Persons living with HIV can lead normal healthy lives if they are diagnosed early and if they stick faithfully to their treatment plans.”
Stigma surrounding HIV is very common in the Caribbean. This is due primarily to a lack of education on the subject, fostering many false beliefs about transmission and HIV-associated sexual practices. Some persons living with HIV continue to be shunned by family, peers and the wider community while others report discriminatory behavior towards them in healthcare and education settings, erosion of their human rights, and psychological damage. Healthcare workers have a duty to treat all patients as they would wish themselves to be treated if they were ill or had a health problem.
The management of HIV/AIDS is a priority public health issue for CARPHA, and the Agency is part of the fight, as a member of PANCAP, contributing to the development of the third (2014-2018) iteration of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) for HIV.
Dr. Hospedales said, “As a Region we can get to zero, but we all need to work together to do it. CARPHA will continue to work closely with Member States and regional and global partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
CARPHA urges Caribbean leaders and people to address the basic structural barriers in society that deny marginalized individuals their rights, undercut public health goals, and impede universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
Also, look up on Google: US government patent on Ebola…. join the dots folks and enjoy the culling
Folks, hold on to your hats as this WILL shock you.
HIV/ AIDS – 100% manufactured in the USA. Forget lifestyles, forget transmission via sexual intercourse. Here is the real deal:-
“Dr. Michele Carbone Assistant Professor of Pathology at Loyola University in Chicago has openly acknowledged HIV/AIDS was spread by the hepatitis B vaccine produced by Merck & Co. during the early 1970s. It is the first time since the initial transmissions took place in 1972-74, that a leading expert in the field of vaccine manufacturing and testing has openly admitted the Merck & Co. liability for AIDS”
Here is the link: http://preventdisease.com/news/13/071713_CDC-Admits-98-Million-Americans-Received-Polio-Vaccine-In-An-8-Year-Span-When-It-Was-Contaminated-With-Cancer-Virus.shtml
When I heard some nationals have HIV/AIDS I was shocked. I never thought that this would have spread to Dominica. People travel and one gave it to another. The entire world has people who have HIV/AIDS.
Some years ago I viewed a US TV program and debate on AIDS. I had taped it. The first thought was that this disease originated from Africa, an African monkey. Imagine! They tried to pin it on Africans. People soon found out that it is not so, that it stemmed from homosexual practices. This sexual practice is an abnormal one. No wonder that they contracted this illness.
There are some who still deny it. I heard an African woman state on CNN that it is a virus. They even call it a virus, still denying that it did not originate from abnormal sexual behavior/practice. And they will keep on denying it and watering it down but they cannot deceive everyone.
Young people of all, stay away from such a deadly practice, both mortally and spiritually.
AIDS remains prevalent in the Caribbean but progress is being made in the war against the virus.
Everybody should be grateful for the well written and sound advice in this news article.
Common sense principles are worthy of repeating because if everybody follows them the good news at this time next year will be even better.
(1) If you know you could be positive get tested immediately.
(2) If you find you are positive get into treatment as soon as possible and stay in treatment.
Treatment can give you a better quality of life. It can add many years to your life. HIV is now manageable,
and it is possible NOT to develop into full blown AIDS. In fact you may live until a cure is discovered!
(3) Live by God’s moral code in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 and Galatians 5:19-21. There is only one way to be 100% safe from HIV and that is abstinence before marriage and chastity after marriage. When this is implemented AIDS will soon be history.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
poverty and sickness go hand in hand especially A i DS go on legalise man to man sex more sickness
Some governments of the world, some interest groups including those who encourage and approve it have been instrumental in doing just that. Just imagine legalizing two men and two women to so-call get married. Obviously, AIDS/HIV will spread throughout the world. Those authorities and others who also applaud them will all have to answer to God.
the number of young children and grown folks also you see having porn without using a condom. Zero? Really?why aren’t we surprised that it is dominant among the males.They’re the ones going around playing games with people’s lives.They get tested, they figure they clean and they figure so is everyone else that they come in contact with. These unfaithful men is where the problem starts.
One must be living under a rock to expose themselves to that virus. With the amount of information that is out there, what is the harm in using a condom if you choose to have sex with someone whose status you don’t know?
Some contracted it and unknowingly passed it on to others. Some others knew they have it and sexually transmitted it to others. This is how this disease spread throughout the years.
Many did not know they contracted it. I read it could take ten years to surface. It is like cancer. From what I heard, some people are tested for cancer and only when it progressed, did they find out they have cancer and then it was too late to be treated.