As Guyana joined the world yesterday in observance of World AIDS Day, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said that the country is one of several Caribbean states to have made significant strides in achieving the first of the UNAIDS 2020 “90-90-90” goals.
According to UNAIDS some Caribbean countries have achieved elements of the 90–90–90 targets (90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) aware of their HIV status, 90% of diagnosed people on antiretroviral treatment, and 90% of those on treatment virally supressed). Barbados has reached the target for testing while Guyana has exceeded it with 94% of people living with HIV diagnosed. Haiti has gotten 98% of diagnosed people on treatment. Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago have achieved viral suppression among at least 90% of people living with HIV who are on treatment.
According to Minister Anthony, towards the end of 2019, Guyana had recorded 8,700 PLHIV with 73% of those persons on antiretroviral therapy and 75% virally suppressed.
