Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in SVG low, but still significant – Adams

Although the prevalence is HIV/AIDS in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is under the one per cent mark, Vincentians should not be complacent.

Epidemiologist Dr Rosmond Adams expressed this view at the launch of World AIDS day activities at the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment on Wednesday.{{more}}

“In the region, approximately one per cent of the persons are living with HIV and AIDS. Now one per cent may sound very small and very insignificant; however, when we look at the data from around the world, it is showing that after Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean region has the highest HIV prevalence than any other region in the world with this one per cent prevalence.”

Dr Adams said although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in SVG is lower than some other countries in the Caribbean, we should not be comfortable.

“…but looking at this, we shouldn’t be comfortable and say we are lower than the prevalence for the entire region and so we can sit and fold our hands. It is saying that we doing something good and we should continue to decrease the incidents or new cases of HIV,” he stated.

Dr Adams disclosed that Jamaica, Bahamas and Haiti are just a few of the Caribbean countries that have a HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of over one per cent.

He explained that while the prevalence of HIV/AIDS may be under 0.7 per cent in the general population in SVG, the rate is higher among what is called the ‘key population’.

“The prevalence is greater, however, among what we call the key population in the region, and in St Vincent and the Grenadines there is no exception, the prevalence among the key population is also higher.”

Adams explained that key population includes: men who have sex with men (MSM), commercial sex workers and persons who are in prison.

The epidemiologist disclosed that currently 650 persons are currently living with HIV/AIDS here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which translates to 1.2 per cent of the adult population. The prevalence among the general population is under 0.7 per cent.

He explained that it is becoming increasingly difficult to track HIV/AIDS cases nationally, because of the free movement of people across the region.

“It is important for us to know that migration between islands…contributes to the spread of HIV and is also blurring the boundaries between the different national epidemics.”

Adams also explained that statistically there is a higher rate of prevalence of HIV/AIDS in men than woman.

“What we generally see is that males are more affected than females…however, in 2014 we’ve seen a decrease in males…and slight increase in females….

“Our measure should be a decrease in new cases, decrease in AIDS cases and a decrease in AIDS related deaths. So, if we are not seeing these things, then we need to look at our programmes and at what we are doing and critically analyze them so we know that we are having an impact…,” Adams noted.

However, he did lighten the mood when he told the audience regionally there is a 67 per cent access to anti-retroviral drugs and 79 per cent access for pregnant women.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines is currently in the process of validation of the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis,” Adams observed, which got rousing applause from the many health officials in attendance.

“Because as the theme said getting to zero…when we speak about getting to zero we are not speaking about getting to realistically zero…however, we are speaking about reducing it significantly so that it is not as significant or it is not a major public health issue or public health burden on the health sector.”

Manager of the Bank of Nova Scotia Fitzaudy Wright handed over $11,200 to HIV/AIDS unit as a part of the bank’s social commitment.

“I’d love for you to know that getting to zero is more than just a tag line; it speaks to a statement of hope, vision and this resonates with us very well. We believe that testing allows us to know our status and knowing one’s status gives us power. It gives us the power of choice that is to get the treatment or to exercise preventative measure or just prevent infection on a whole.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment Luis de Shong told those present that SVG has now entered the most critical stage of scaling up interventions to achieve maximum coverage.

“This, ladies and gentlemen, will require ongoing political and strategic leadership across all sectors, especially on stronger collaboration with the private sector, transparent and sustainable partnership with developing partners and an engaged and active civil society.”

World AIDS Day activities for 2015 included: a launch in Chateaubelair and testing in selected areas on Thursday; a march and rally on Friday in Marriaqua and Georgetown; on Monday, November 30, a public speaking competition in Chateaubelair, all leading up to the national march and rally today, Tuesday, December 1. (CM)