The Bahamas is pleased to host the first Caribbean HIV Conference to discuss the region’s HIV-related matters.
In 1981, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new clinical syndrome in the USA. The first case of AIDS was reported in the Caribbean in 1982 and in The Bahamas in 1983.
The virulence of HIV/AIDS has resulted in various debilitating illnesses and premature death in people during the prime years of their life, devastating families and communities.
The Bahamas recognized early the value of treating HIV and AIDS even before the discovery of the drugs in use today.
Today, antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are available and the generic ARVs are funded by The Bahamas Government for residents through partnerships with international organizations.
“Sustainable high quality prevention, treatment, care and support services that are accessible by all residents of The Bahamas living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS regardless of legal status or ability to pay” is the basic mission of the National HIV/AIDS programme in The Bahamas. Care is provided for all who need it, irrespective of immigration status. This includes clinical care and support, diagnostic testing and antiretroviral treatment.
Since AIDS was discovered in newborns in 1989, antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment have been important in preventing mother to child transmission. Such care and treatment are provided free of charge to all public and private HIV positive pregnant women. I am happy to inform that in 2010 in The Bahamas, there was no detected transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their babies.
Notwithstanding the decline in new cases and a major reduction in mother-to-child transmission and decreasing mortality, AIDS remains a leading cause of death among Bahamian men and women aged 25-44.
The Ministry of Health has been proactive in reaching persons at risk for HIV infection, but there are still significant challenges in accessing vulnerable and at risk individuals for diagnosis, care and treatment. Some of these challenges include stigma and discrimination as HIV/AID was associated with young gay men and intravenous drug users. Subsequently, immigration status, language barriers, and economic inequity contributed to the persistence of the stigma attached to the disease.
Notwithstanding tremendous strides are being achieved in defusing fears associated with contact with HIV/AIDS infected persons. Still, significant stigma and sometimes discrimination persists. This in turn creates a significant barrier to detection, care and treatment.
The Bahamas has been a leader in developing legislation to protect the rights of minorities and others living with HIV. In 1991 The Bahamas decriminalize homosexuality between consenting adults. The Bahamas was the only Caribbean country to sign the Paris Declaration in 1994 which set global standards for HIV and human rights. We also legislated strengthened protection from discrimination for HIV positive individuals in the workplace.
Assistance from international donor agencies has aided significantly in the care and treatment side of the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Clinton Foundation assisted in programme development and made The Bahamas their hub for the region. The Bahamas was the first country in this region to benefit from the negotiations by the Clinton Foundation with generic pharmaceutical companies (like Med Pharm) to supply affordable, quality drugs, and promote universal access to antiretroviral treatments.
We recently signed the Partnership Framework PEPFAR agreement with the United States, joining 13 other countries in the region. Funds received are to be spent on education and prevention, laboratory enhancement and strategic information. Many of the activities using PEPFAR funds will collect evidence of the weaknesses in our local programmes so that sustained action can be developed to achieve national goals.
The USA also recently approved the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Training Initiative (CHART-II) for implementation of a regional approach to assist the health sector’s workforce and its beneficiaries mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS in twelve Caribbean Regional Partnership Framework (PF) countries: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname.
The goal of CHART-II is to improve HIV/AIDS related health service delivery outcomes through the development of continuing education programs, integrating pre-service and in-service training of the health workforce.
Every country around the globe is involved in containing this disease. Indeed, the sixth Millennium Development Goal focuses on stopping and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Global funding is increasing, but global need is growing faster. Through unprecedented global attention and intervention efforts, the rate of new HIV infections has slowed and prevalence rates have leveled off globally. Yet despite the progress, the total number of people living with HIV continues to rise.
There is growing recognition that, certain groups are at particular risk of HIV, including men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDUs), and commercial sex workers (CSWs).
The impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls has been particularly devastating. Women and girls now comprise 50 percent of those aged 15 and older living with HIV. The impact of HIV/AIDS on children and young people is a severe and growing problem.
As we move forward in treating HIV/AIDS in the region, we acknowledge that there are still significant challenges in accessing vulnerable and at risk individuals for diagnosis, care and treatment.
Reports today record a shift in the distribution of new HIV/AIDS cases by race/ethnicity among new cases occurring. In addition, the largest proportional increase in the disease is occurring in cases attributed to heterosexual transmission.
There are some notable success stories of survival rates. Here in The Bahamas there are six young people who were born HIV positive who are still alive and living relative normal lives. One is currently a student in college, and at least two of the others have produced children of their own. These stories make us feel good, but much work is still ahead.
The best hope for containment of HIV/AIDS is a reduction in the number of new infections. We must scale up the prevention activities that have proven successful if we are to reverse the AIDS pandemic. At the same time, providing treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS remains absolutely essential.
The Government of the Bahamas is pleased to host the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference under the theme: “Strengthening Evidence to Achieve Sustainable Action”. We are pleased also to collaborate with others in the region in confronting this epidemic.
I wish you every success in your continued deliberations, and trust that you will find some time to enjoy our Bahamian hospitality beyond the venue of this historic Conference.
