By next year, the capacity to conduct HIV tests on babies within the first 12 weeks of their birth should be a reality as Guyana continues to record success in executing its HIV, malaria, tuberculosis programmes.
At present, local testing of babies for HIV cannot be done until about 18 months, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, during a press conference at the ministry yesterday said dry blood samples are currently being sent to South Africa for testing. However, it is expected that Guyana will have the capacity to conduct such testing locally in the first quarter of 2008.
Meanwhile, vulnerable children at more than 25 orphanages and homes have been tested. The minister also said that initial reports from the second national day of testing held on November 16, indicate that about 4,400 persons were tested at some 100 fixed and temporary testing sites countrywide. The projected target was 2,500.
Ramsammy said the event was a huge success as not only was the target exceeded but new partnerships were also formed. However, he cautioned that such exercises could not be used to determine the actual prevalence of HIV in the country. “Whatever prevalence you have, exercises like these can only be an indicative arrangement not a measure of the actual prevalence, which can only be confirmed by studies,” he said.
GINA said recent reports have indicated that Guyana has a reduced prevalence of about 1.5 per cent while reports from the National Day of Testing revealed a prevalence of 1.01 per cent. Regions One, Eight and Nine have not yet reported on the National Day of Testing results.
The minister said people are now more willing to know their status and this was evidenced by long lines at testing sites, which attracted more females than males. Over 59% of the persons tested last Friday were female. “It is good that they are interested because they are a very vulnerable group, but it doesn’t mean men must not know their status because a very great deal of transmissions is linked to the activities of men. So they need to know their status,” the minister said.
The national day of testing was held under the theme ‘Don’t Take chances -Take the test’. It was organized by the National AIDS Programme Secretariat and the Ministry of Health and supported by various entities, non-governmental agencies and private sector enterprises.
“Last year more than 1,000 persons were tested as part of national day of testing although the projected challenge was set at just about 1000,” GINA said.
Meanwhile, Ramsammy said Guyana’s proposal for a US$4 million grant to further strengthen the country’s malaria programme was approved by the Global Fund at its 16th Board of Directors meeting held on November 12 and 13 in China.
The minister said arrangements would be made over the next three months to have the contract signed with Global Fund for the grant to be released. The existing malaria programme, which the fund supports, targets Regions Seven and Eight and this grant will focus on Region Nine. He also said another area of funding has been developed for countries that have successfully executed their programmes and earned a Grade ‘A’ by the fund.
Meantime, a workshop aimed at highlighting the National Action Plan for Quality Improvement in health care was held at the Cara Lodge on Wednesday, with regional health officials in attendance.
According to GINA, Ramsammy said the establishment of the Patients’ Charter in Guyana is important to ensure that there are medical records of all citizens or patients and by March 2008, there will be a formal Patient Rights’ Charter.
