SVG celebrates World Aids Day

The Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment joined the rest of the world yesterday, Monday, December 1, to celebrate World AIDS Day, under the theme GETTING TO ZERO. Zero new infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero Aids related deaths.{{more}}

This theme reflects the tremendous progress that has been made globally in combating the spread of this disease, access to life-saving anti-retroviral treatment and the decline in new infections and AIDS related deaths.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment hosted a Health Fair at the Leeward Bus Terminal in Kingstown, yesterday, December 1. The fair offered the general public the opportunity to: be more informed about HIV and AIDS; know their HIV status, through counselling and testing for HIV; be screened for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, through blood sugar and blood pressure screening; be informed about Sexual and Reproductive Health issues and Family Planning and be educated about care of the feet, through Foot Health Services.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The term HIV/AIDS represents the entire range of diseases caused by the human immunodeficiency virus from early infection to late stage symptoms. According to United States Agency for International Development( USAID) GAP Report, at the end of 2013, an estimated 35 million persons are living with HIV globally and 1.5 million persons have already died.