By: Kimberly Ramkhalawan
November 25, 2022
Outgoing PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne is calling out the inequity that continues to pervade the region in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In highlighting the advancements in treatment for the virus, she notes one of the greater challenges in combating AIDS and HIV in the region has been linked to the inequality in accessing quality services and tools for effective testing, prevention and treatment. Dr. Etienne describes this as unacceptable, as there are powerful tools and approach at the region’s disposal to make AIDS a thing of the past. In the same breath, she noted the affordability and availability of these tools for countries is quite possible through the strategic fund for the PAHO. These she says are rapid self-tests, for real time HIV diagnosis, drugs to prevent an HIV infection in people at risk and easy and effective medications to take for those already living with the disease. The PAHO Director says, it is regrettable that these tools continue to be out of reach to the most vulnerable societies, making access unequal.
To change this and the course of HIV/AIDS in the region, she calls for an integrated response extended to all communities at risk. Other issues that continue to be prevalent, is stigma and discrimination to broader access, this she says refers to those who are HIV Negative today, with hopes they remain negative, and those living with the virus, improve their quality of life. She adds that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the Caribbean cannot be complacent in the work of preventing AIDS.
While ensuring the incorporation of innovations and universal access to HIV tools and prevent and treat HIV. The end of AIDS and other infectious diseases can only be achieved if barriers to access and affordability to services and tools are tackled and meet who need it the most. She calls on everyone to address the inequity as a broader and development issue for the future and the future of healthier generations.
With eight years left before ending AIDS as a global health threat in 2030, and this year’s World AIDS day themed Equality, Dr.Etienne says the Caribbean remains the most unequal region in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic widened this gap, as vulnerable populations like people living with HIV were heavily impacted since accessing their care, treatments and follow ups became challenging with health services burdened with the ongoing pandemic and pharmaceutical supply chains disrupted. However, one thing the PAHO Director expressed was gratitude for the region’s mature and experienced National HIV Programmes, she says are currently bouncing back tackling what she calls inequalities that affect vulnerable populations.
In saying that, she took the opportunity to “thank health care workers, especially community workers, for showing determination and perseverance to overcome challenges posed by inequities”, noting that their important role was shown more so during the acute phases of the pandemic.
Every year on December 1st, World AIDS Day is observed, this year, the theme is Equalize, where it calls for leaders to make available greater access to care to the most vulnerable within their societies.