Health Minister Calls on Regional Leaders to Ramp Up Efforts to Combat Threat of HIV/AIDS

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is calling on regional leaders to scale up efforts to combat the threat of HIV/AIDs across the Caribbean, especially mother-to-child transmission.

Speaking at the official certification ceremony for Jamaica, Belize, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT), by the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tufton said that Jamaica and other countries that have achieved the milestone stand ready to offer the necessary support, in collaboration with bilateral partners.

The ceremony was organised by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with support from UNICEF and UNAIDS, and held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on May 7.

Dr. Tufton emphasised that work to elevate the status of the most vulnerable will go a far way to improve the overall health and well-being of citizens in the region.

“Much work is needed to stem the spread of infections across the Caribbean. Greater unity must be fostered for the region to forge ahead towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. Today’s validation achievement is a result of partnership. It’s a concept. It’s a term. It’s a practical approach that we preach here in Jamaica that health is everybody’s business,” he said.

In the meantime, Minister of Health and Wellness of Belize, Kevin Bernard, in echoing the call, said the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is a fundamental right of all children.

“It is a promise to our children for a healthier start in life. It is a testament to our belief in healthcare as a right for all and our commitment to public health as a cornerstone for a more vibrant and productive life. As we receive this certification, let us recognise that our work does not stop here. We must continue to strive for excellence in healthcare to ensure that every resident in our countries in the region, regardless of where they live or their economic status, has access to high-quality health services that they deserve,” he said.

Deputy Executive Director for Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge, UNAIDS, Christine Stegling, said more than 100,000 persons are living with HIV in the Caribbean who are not on treatment, and work must continue to improve that.

“We need to ensure that each one of them has access to antiretroviral treatment and we must remain vigilant on the prevention front. We know that criminal laws undermine health efforts where key populations and people living with HIV are criminalised. We need to make sure that each child born in HIV negative remains HIV free as they become an adolescent and later as they become an adult. We do this by providing SRHR, STI, HIV and other prevention services, repealing discriminatory laws, and advancing gender equality,” she said.