THE Government will be spending $838 million on the National HIV/AIDS Response in Jamaica project during the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

The programme is geared at reducing AIDS-related morbidity by providing effective biomedical and supporting services, and reducing new HIV infections among key populations through behavioural and structural interventions.

Details of the project are outlined in the 2023/2024 Estimates of Expenditure, which will be considered by the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives shortly.

Targets achieved up to the end of December 2022 include the provision of HIV-prevention programmes and testing and test results for vulnerable groups, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW).

In addition, 91 MSM were placed on oral antiretroviral PrEP, 49 per cent of people living with HIV were placed on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 78 per cent virological suppression was achieved among all people living with HIV and ART.

For the upcoming fiscal year the programme is expected to reach 7,846 MSM, 8,762 FSW, and 432 transgender (TG) persons through HIV-prevention programmes. Also, 7,886 FSW and 389 TG will get tested and receive the results, and 1,128 MSM will be placed on oral antiretroviral PrEP.

The programme will engage 71 per cent of people living with HIV and ART, achieve 80 per cent virological suppression of people living with HIV and ART, and link 93 per cent of people diagnosed with HIV and are on ART.