An initiative will soon be launched to reach persons who are considered more vulnerable of contracting HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Last year the Ministry of Public Health recorded just over 8,000 cases of HIV of which 5,557 are on treatment inclusive of children.
Nevertheless, the Ministry through its Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Campbell, said that its main target are men, particularly gays and men who have sex with men, who reportedly contract the disease about three times more than women.
But the vulnerable populations (Key Populations) which will be targeted during the pilot initiative will also include Female sex workers, according to Dr. Gordon-Campbell. According to the DCMO, the social contracting approach will see a number of Non-Governmental Organisation [NGOs] contracted by the Public Health Ministry to the Key Population with HIV Prevention products and services. “This strategy will have trained NGO staff doing outreaches to ‘hot spots’ which are places frequented by Key Populations,” Dr. Gordon-Campbell revealed.
The NGOs will seek to provide on-site HIV testing, sexual risk reduction counselling, condoms and referral for other health and social services.
It is anticipated that this strategy will help reach an additional 1,821 Female Sex Workers, 1,653 Men who have Sex with Men and 315 transgender women with HIV and STI prevention services. It is expected that this will help Guyana reach its goal in reducing the number of new infections.