UNDP provides COVID-19 aid to persons with HIV, LGBT+ community

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Jairo Valverde (centre), UNDP’s Resident Representative, hands over food items to Dr. Rhonda Moore (left) , Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat and Joel Simpson, Managing Director of SASOD. (UNDP photo)
Jairo Valverde (centre), UNDP’s Resident Representative, hands over food items to Dr. Rhonda Moore (left) , Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat and Joel Simpson, Managing Director of SASOD. (UNDP photo)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided $5.6 million worth of food items in COVID-19 relief to Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender plus (LGBT+) community in Guyana.

A release yesterday from the UNDP said that PLHIV and LGBT+ persons are among the most vulnerable and marginalized in any society. At the time of COVID-19 and its mandatory containment measures, the challenges facing these groups are further exacerbated, it was noted.

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) are partnering with UNDP to ensure that the relief is delivered to individuals and households from key population groups in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, the release added.