Goal 6 : Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases
Target 7: Halt by 2015, and begin to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Target 8: Halt and begin to reverse incidences of Malaria and other Major Diseases.
The spread of infectious diseases threatens to reverse development progress, reduce life expectancy and cut productivity. HIV/AIDS poses an unprecedented health, economic, and social challenge on a global scale. By infecting young people disproportionately, half of all new HIV infections are among 15 to 24 year olds, the epidemic undermines local and international stability.
Guyana’s health profile in the National Health Plan is described as that of a country going through early epidemiological transition: infectious diseases (such as malaria, respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis) dominate, whilst non-communicable diseases cause the majority of deaths.
Guyana’s first AIDS cases were reported in 1987. According to estimates, around 2.4 percent of the population is living with HIV/AIDS. Over 80 percent of cases occurred in the 20-49 age group, and were particularly prevalent in the 25-29 age range. HIV was ranked as the third leading cause of all deaths in Guyana in 2004.
Malaria is not considered to be a major cause of death overall in Guyana but becomes a greater threat when combined with malnutrition, or if repeated episodes are suffered. Additionally, malaria contributes to anaemia, a leading cause of death among children less than five years of age in Guyana. According to available data, cases of malaria have been increasing, with the majority of infections occurring in the interior regions. The most likely reason for the rise is the increase in numbers of people involved in mining and logging: activities which usually take place in remote areas. Because accessibility can be extremely difficult, it is sometimes not possible for patients to obtain medication in time.
Unlike the coastal regions, the main health priorities in the interior regions are Malaria and Acute Respiratory infections. Malaria is mainly a public health threat in the remote interior regions where populations are generally made up of vulnerable groups with higher levels of malnutrition and lower levels of education.
Tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be one of the leading causes of death in Guyana and is therefore included in the Communicable Diseases National Priority Programme. Directly Observed Treatment Short courses (DOTS) are part of a specialised Tuberculosis treatment programme that has been operating for the past four years with satisfactory results. Treatment clinics exist at the main prison and in three regions of Guyana. Laboratories equipped with specialised equipments are located at three main hospitals.
What is being done to combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases?
HIV/AIDS was identified as one of five priority programmes in the Guyanese National Health plan. Ongoing initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS focus on reducing mother to child transmission, providing maternal support to orphans and vulnerable children, upgrading the main national and regional laboratories to provide more specialised testing services, a blood screening programme, upgrading Treatment Protocols and training staff. In addition, every two months teams of technical personnel visit four of the hinterland regions to conduct clinics and offer ARV treatments.
A number of programmes addressing HIV prevention and treatment and care, supported through the US President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), are also in progress. These include promoting behaviour to decrease HIV Transmission, reducing the stigma association with HIV/AIDS, increasing demand for and access to quality treatment and establishing social and economic support services for those living with AIDS. There is now an increased availability of information on HIV/AIDS through the media and on an official web page (www.hiv.gov.gy) launched in 2006.
A number of public education measures are being implemented to target prevention, early detection and treatment of malaria. Malaria Committees are being established in schools, Malaria Councils set up in villages and training initiatives are being carried out in collaboration with PAHO. Other measures include increasing the distribution of insecticide impregnated bed nets and expanding training programmes. These programmes aim to train local personnel in microscopy and to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. New national guidelines for treatment are also being implemented.
Initiatives currently underway to reduce and reverse the incidence of Tuberculosis include providing clinics for three additional regions, increasing the number of laboratories and expanding the central Chest Clinic.
To meet the health needs of the communities where malaria and TB are most prevalent, the Ministry of Health has undertaken measures to ensure that basic medical supplies are readily available and that proper storage facilities are in place for these supplies.
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