On World AIDS Day…
GUYANA, on Tuesday last, joined in the global observance of World AIDS Day, under the theme ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’.

A section of the gathering during the GDF World AIDS Day programme at Camp Ayanganna. Seated from left: Dr Reuben Del Prado; Dr Shanti Singh; Mr. Joseph Eastman; Ms. Melba Hernandez; US Charge d’ Affaires Ms. Karen Williams and Mrs. Beverley Gomes-Lovell.

Several related activities were conducted locally, among them a commemorative programme hosted by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funded Guyana Defence Force HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme.

The hundreds in attendance, at the GDF Base Camp Ayanganna auditorium, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, were addressed by Charge d’ Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Karen Williams, among other key stakeholders in Guyana’s HIV/AIDS response.

The diplomat, speaking on behalf of the U.S. Government – the main supporting pillar upon which Guyana’s HIV/AIDS intervention programmes are funded, said the occasion was one which offered an opportunity “to renew and recommit ourselves to the fight against a pandemic that spares no one and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable.”

Announcing plans for future collaboration with Guyana in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Williams disclosed that, over the next five years, the U.S. will place renewed emphasis on its partnering to build on this country’s national HIV/AIDS response.

Charge d’ Affaires Karen Williams addresses the gathering.

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

Williams said, in the last six years, PEPFAR has allocated, to the GDF HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme, more than US$100M to fight the pandemic here and her Government is committed to continuing its support of the national programme.

“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 affirmed.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Since the inception of the GDF programme on March 1, 2006, with the immediate focus on prevention, the U.S. has dedicated nearly US$1M to it and, among the achievements, are:

Dr Shanti Singh addresses the gathering.

* 81 per cent of the Army accessed voluntary counselling and testing services and,

* HIV/AIDS sensitisation and prevention education reached 92 per cent of the military ranks.

She said much progress has been made through international efforts with partners around the world.

Williams spoke, as well, of President Barack Obama’s decision to repeal the HIV ban, which denied entry, stay and residence in the U.S. to infected persons, that will be effective early in the new year, making it possible for the International AIDS Society to hold its 2012 conference in the U.S. for the first time since 1990.

GDF Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best acknowledged the U.S. assistance to the Army’s prevention programme, through PEPFAR, the U.S. Southern Command, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best addresses the World AIDS Day Programme at Camp Ayanganna. (Carl Croker Photos)

He said the GDF has derived benefit from information, facilities and training and four VCT sites have been established over the last six years.

Best said training has been bolstered, resulting in 58 certified counsellors and 72 testers being trained and certified; more Guyanese are being reached; there has been a decline in the rate of new HIV infections and a significant reduction in stigma and discrimination was recorded.

CHANGE
That apart, he said the next step to be urgently addressed would be to work on bringing about an attitudinal change in those officers and ranks who continue to display stereotypical behaviours, as that could adversely affect the work of the programme.

National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Manager, Dr Shanti Singh, lauded the GDF drive and said, collectively, efforts have resulted in a reduction in the number of new HIV cases.

Citing inroads made by the national response, of which the GDF is part, she said the Army has much of which to be proud.

Ranks of the GDF stage an exhibition as part of the World AIDS Day programme.

Singh lauded the Army programme, under the direction of Mrs. Beverly Gomes-Lovell, for doing a remarkable job, in addition to protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

Singh reported that, during the recent National Week of Testing, the GDF accounted for almost one-third of the counselling and tests done.

She alluded to the part played by such entities as PEPFAR, Global Fund, World Bank, UNAIDS, the Private Sector, Civil Society and others, declaring the reality is that what has been accomplished would not have been possible without their help.

Singh conceded that a major challenge now would be for the soldiers to work at influencing people, particularly the young, who see them as role models, to effect behaviour change.

She said it would be in consonance with the HIV prevention messages.

GDF Programme Manager, Mrs. Beverly Gomes-Lovell, who is a public health specialist from PEPFAR/Department of Defence (DOD), told the gathering that World AIDS Day is about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education, too.

IMPORTANT
She said, on such a day, it is important to be reminded that HIV has not gone away and that there are many things still to be done.

Gomes-Lovell called on people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

The GDF project commenced on March 1, 2006 and, by December 1 that year, World AIDS Day activities in the Army were staged simultaneously at five bases, with the official opening of the first VCT site at Coast Guard Headquarters, Ruimveldt.

Since then, four more sites have been established, at Base Camps Ayanganna, Stephenson and Seweyo and, along with prevention activities, contributed significantly to the scaling down of the incidence of HIV infection and heightened awareness.

Such accomplishments, Gomes-Lovell agreed could not have been scored by the GDF HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme on its own, but with the support of other key stakeholders.

In that context, she recognised the sterling inputs of the U.S. Department of Defence HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme, the U.S. Military Liaison Office,

sections of the Ministry of Health. NAPS, the tuberculosis programme, U.S. Centre for Disease Control, USAID and others.

Others who took part the observance at Camp Ayanganna included U.S. Military Liaison Officer, Ms. Melba Hernandez; UNAIDS Country Director, Dr Reuben Del Prado; PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Eastman and Head of Treatment and Care in Guyana, Dr Jadunauth Ragunauth.