THE National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) continues to lead Guyana’s national response to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with renewed focus on awareness, prevention, treatment, and support services.
As Guyana observes World AIDS Day 2025 under the global theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” the Ministry of Health, through NAPS, has launched a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening public education and expanding access to services.
Activities already underway include last Friday’s National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy Conference, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, and today’s World AIDS Day walk.
According to NAPS, these efforts form part of its broader mandate to increase sensitisation, promote safer sexual practices, and advance the national goal of ending HIV by 2030. In alignment with the international theme, the organisation has adopted its own localised message for 2025: “Communities Leading Equity in Action.”
Dr. Keisha Chin, National STI Programme Coordinator, said NAPS has intensified its work this year by expanding and optimising its combination prevention services. This approach includes widening access to HIV and STI testing and increasing the number of sites offering these services across the country.
“When persons visit any of the testing sites, they can be screened for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and at some locations, rapid swab tests for gonorrhoea and chlamydia are also available,” Dr. Chin explained. She noted that NAPS aims to make its services as comprehensive as possible to ensure early detection and treatment.
NAPS has also extended its outreach to communities identified as hotspots, areas where services can be improved, or locations where there is a general need for greater public health support. The organisation continues to expand its care, treatment, and support network across both public and private facilities, with further growth planned at newly commissioned hospitals.
Field teams are deployed regularly to ensure that prevention products remain accessible in high-risk areas. This includes condoms, lubricants, and NAPS’ branded “prep for sex” or “lash bags,” which contain prevention commodities along with the organisation’s HIV self-testing kits.
In addition to community outreach and testing, NAPS provides Continuing Medical Education Sessions (CMEs) for healthcare workers, social workers, and allied health personnel. These sessions cover updated treatment guidelines, current STI trends in Guyana, and information on where services are available.
“Our goal is to bring healthcare standards in Guyana in line with international best practices,” Dr. Chin said. “We want to ensure that in any public facility, citizens can access reliable testing, care, treatment, and support services.”