–stakeholders meeting told

IN Guyana, stigma, discrimination and gender-based violence remain formidable obstacles to ending the HIV epidemic, a stakeholders meeting was told on Tuesday at the Grand Costal Inn, Le Resouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

The forum was hosted by representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Advancing Partnering and Communities and was addressed by Dr. Jocelyn Lehrer, Senior Technical Specialist, Gender, Violence and Health International Center for Research on Women.

She looked at a study on the programmatic and capacity needs of Non-Government Organisations with the aid of the advancing partners and communities.
Dr. Lehrer noted that the cross-sectional assessment was carried out to ensure that services are accessible and acceptable to key populations on the margins of the national response.

NEW OUTLOOK
The study showed that there is a need for a new outlook on structural and programmatic directions in Guyana for a high turnover in results when it comes to addressing the issue of HIV-related stigma and gender-based violence.
The new structural directions include rigorous training of professionals in relation to HIV stigma and discrimination, training police officers for more appropriate and effective responses to gender-based violence, expanding shelter for victims of violence and services in the hinterland.
Programmatic direction entails the shifting of norms in the general population, working with youths in schools to reduce harmful gender norms and stigmatizing attitudes, educating the general public and relevant organisations about the existing laws and the empowerment of survivors of violence.
Fundamentally, however, Guyana has made numerous efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination and increase access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services.
These efforts have laid the groundwork for expanding the accessibility of HIV services for key and vulnerable populations and enabling Guyana to reach the goals of reducing the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals, communities and the country as a whole.

(By Clestine Juan)