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Everyday there are fifty new HIV infections in the Caribbean. This resulted in a total of 18,000 new infections in 2009. The Caribbean region has the second highest rate of HIV prevalence worldwide. And by the end of 2009, there were approximately 260,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS.
According to Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, Minister of Health in The Bahamas, HIV prevalence in the general adult population is about 3.3%. Dr. Minnis was speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Regional HIV Prevention Summit on most-at-risk populations (MARPs) and other vulnerable populations (OVPs) on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. He highlighted the inequitable access to healthcare due to ones immigration status; stigma and discrimination, criminalization of sex work as some of the main factors driving the epidemic in The Bahamas. Today, AIDS is the leading cause of death for persons 15-49 years in the Bahamas.
The situation is similar right across the Caribbean. According to Her Excellency Nicole Avant, US Ambassador to the Bahamas, human rights challenges is one the main factors driving the spread of HIV in the region. For example, in 11 Caribbean countries, buggery and consensual same-sex activities are criminalized with sanctions between 10 and 25 years in prison with hard labour. In addition, sex work is criminalized in the majority of these islands. Several persons continue to ventilate the serious implications of criminalization in fuelling stigma and discrimination, which drives persons away from essential services and treatment.
This threatens any progress in the region to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 and ensuring that there is universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Ambassador Avant challenged persons involved in the regional response to HIV and AIDS to begin to think creatively about ways to promote HIV prevention and public awareness of the issues.
The summit will be held from March 15-17, 2011 to among other things (1) increase awareness and agreement on the important of providing effective, focused, and targeted prevention interventions for MARPs and OVPs; (2) increase knowledge of evidence-based HIV prevention strategies; and (3) create linkages between HIV prevention experts on MARPs and OVPs with program practitioners in the Caribbean.
The summit is sponsored by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and hosted by The Bahamas Ministry of Health.
Stayed tuned for more updates….
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