On World AIDS Day…
THE United States (U.S.) has given a commitment to continuing its support of achievements that have curbed the spread of HIV in Guyana.

However, in a statement to mark World AUDS Day 2009, Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Ms. Karen Williams said: “We know that there are a number of obstacles that threaten the success of our future HIV prevention, treatment and care efforts.

“We cannot succeed in this fight against HIV/AIDS alone and the U.S. is committed to working with our global partners to support Guyana’s leadership in this effort.”

She disclosed that, over the next five years, the U.S. will place renewed emphasis on partnering with Guyana to build this country’s national HIV/AIDS response.

“We will continue to work together with all sectors of Guyana as they craft strategies and programmes to combat HIV/AIDS and support the Government of Guyana as it engages international partners, civil society and non-governmental organisations,” Williams pledged.

In addition, she said, as part of the U.S. Global Health Initiative announced by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will support Guyana as it works to further integrate and expand access to other health care services, such as those that address tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health and family planning with HIV/AIDS programmes.

Williams said: “As we do this, we must also ensure that the work we do together addresses the societal challenges that drive the spread of HIV.”

PEPFAR is the largest commitment in history by any nation to combat a single disease and the U.S. is unwavering in its commitment to its partner nations.

“On World AIDS Day 2009, we recommit ourselves to furthering our achievements and look forward to continuing the battle against this global epidemic,” the statement said.

It pointed out that, working together for the past 25 years, the global community has achieved many successes in the fight against HIV/AIDS that deserve recognition on this World AIDS Day.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than four million individuals in low and middle income nations currently have access to anti-retroviral treatment.

“Thanks to our many partners, the American people, through the United States support more than half of those men, women and children on treatment.

“In Guyana, PEPFAR has allocated more than US$100M to the HIV/AIDS epidemic over a six-year period. At the end of September 2009, the national programme, with the support of PEPFAR, had provided life-saving anti-retroviral therapy to 2,737 people and HIV care and support services to 5,399 persons infected with and affected by HIV.

“Among these, more than 1,300 children, orphaned or made vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS, received care and support services to improve their quality of life. PEPFAR has supported the expansion of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programme (PMTCTP).

“This programme has provided testing to more than 11,000 pregnant women and anti-retroviral therapy to HIV positive pregnant women to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. The U.S. commends the national programme for the decline in HIV prevalence seen over the last six years and the strength of programmes and support systems that have facilitated these important gains,” the statement added.