GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says approximately 5,100 people die annually in the Caribbean from HIV-related causes and that one-third of the HIV cases are identified at an advanced stage.  The Guyana-based Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Wednesday said these facts formed critical areas for discussion at the regional workshop: “Uniting Science and Communities to Accelerate HIV Response in the Caribbean,” held in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month. The event in Port of Spain was organised by PANCAP, the International AIDS Society (IAS), The Global Fund, PAHO and Plataforma LAC. PANCAP Director, Dr Wendy Telgt-Emanuelson, spoke of the unique challenges and urgent needs the Caribbean faces in dealing with the situation.

Data from the 2024 UNAIDS report indicate that the Caribbean is not poised to achieve the 95-95-95 targets in 2025 and Jones said this may affect the ultimate goal of ending AIDs as a public health threat in 2030. “Despite 40 years of the epidemic, one-third of the HIV cases are identified in advanced stage. The region needs to scale up HIV prevention with effective linkage into care early through the implementation of the “treat all policy” to reduce late diagnosis while providing different innovations and interventions aimed at reducing HIV mortality, especially for those with advanced HIV,” she said. (Jamaicaobserver)

Photo: According to Jamaicans For Justice, 70 per cent of HIV status disclosures occur within community settings by family members. The remaining 30 per cent happens within health and workplace settings.