TWENTY-FOUR nurses with new skills to deal with HIV/AIDS were yesterday challenged, by Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, to work towards mitigating the stigma associated with the disease. The two dozens graduated from the one month training programme at Project Dawn, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara and were the third batch to complete the course that was conducted by Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
It was facilitated by infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Sudheer Kumar.
Ramsammy remarked that the issue of stigma and discrimination is not only a problem in the general public but also one among health workers.
He said the feedback received by the Ministry is that persons living with HIV/AIDS miss appointments because they want to avoid being discriminated against by some health workers.
Ramsammy added that other patients refuse to be tested for the same reason and this should not be, as health workers are in the know when it comes to HIV/AIDS.
He agreed that education is the key to combating the lament and said the training is important to reduce stigma.
Ramsammy said trained health workers must carry the message in the effort to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Kumar observed that HIV/AIDS continues to impact development and nurses are critical to the cause, particularly when it comes to dealing with prevention of transmission from mother to child.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 800 women were living with HIV/AIDS in 2000 and delivered 200 infected babies but, as of 2009, the number of victims declined and 130 affected women produced 10 children born HIV positive.
Kumar said the just concluded training is in response to a need and the beneficiaries must recognise their role.