Wed Jan 25, 2006
Caribbean could do better in HIV/Aids fight
Regional health officials met in St. Lucia on Wednesday to assess the progress of the Caribbean in the battle against the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus.
Delegates attending the meeting organised by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Secretariat, say that while the region has made significant progress in a number of areas in the fight against HIV/AIDS, they have not been able to do as well as they would have liked in others.
While admitting that the target of disseminating information about the disease has been reached, they have acknowledged that it had not translated into the hopes of behavioural change that would help halt the spread of the disease.
On the issue of treatment, an estimated 20-25 per cent of people living with the disease have access to anti-retroviral drugs but officials feel the percentage could be higher.
The Caribbean is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa in the number of persons suffering with HIV/AIDS.
Caribbean could do better in HIV/Aids fight
Regional health officials met in St. Lucia on Wednesday to assess the progress of the Caribbean in the battle against the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus.
Delegates attending the meeting organised by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Secretariat, say that while the region has made significant progress in a number of areas in the fight against HIV/AIDS, they have not been able to do as well as they would have liked in others.
While admitting that the target of disseminating information about the disease has been reached, they have acknowledged that it had not translated into the hopes of behavioural change that would help halt the spread of the disease.
On the issue of treatment, an estimated 20-25 per cent of people living with the disease have access to anti-retroviral drugs but officials feel the percentage could be higher.
The Caribbean is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa in the number of persons suffering with HIV/AIDS.
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