Prioritise HIV prevention, care to end AIDS epidemic — Cuthbert-Flynn
MONTEGO BAY, St James — State minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn is confident that the UNAIDS’ vision of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 can be realised in Jamaica.
“Jamaica’s public health system is moving increasingly towards higher service delivery and in this regard, it is indeed possible to reimagine the end of AIDS as a public health threat,” Cuthbert-Flynn said on Wednesday during day one of the 31st HIV/STI/TB annual review planning meeting at Jewel Grande in Montego Bay.
Cuthbert-Flynn noted that though achievable, further prioritisation of HIV prevention and care will bring Jamaica a step closer to this goal.
“To see to this goal’s fulfilment, we must prioritise HIV prevention, care, and treatment and reinforce partner support. It is then that we will find our national HIV response repositioned for success,” she said.
The health ministry, Cuthbert-Flynn added, is committed to assisting people living with HIV (PLHIV).
“We are mindful that health-care settings may sometimes prove challenging for people living with HIV. Given our commitment to providing access for all, we are again reexamining the customer service experience in our public health facilities with a view to improving public confidence in service delivery,” she said.
While acknowledging the efforts that have been made in the worldwide fight against this deadly disease, the state minister pointed out that Jamaica has significantly improved in its response to the AIDS epidemic.
“In the more than 35 years since HIV/AIDS burst onto the global scene, much progress has been made to end the status of this viral disease as a prevailing public health threat. Here in Jamaica, those efforts have included delivery of care, which includes medical, social, psychological, and peer support to enable PLHIV to live their best lives; updating guiding documents and facilitation of programmatic reviews; and reducing the barrier to accessing care for our key and vulnerable populations,” Cuthbert-Flynn explained on Wednesday.
Pointing to data gathered by the MOHW, Cuthbert Flynn said there has been significant “improvement in HIV prevention, care and treatment outcomes”.
“Data from our national HIV programme indicates that patients are accessing care, being retained in care, and since 2017, follow-up numbers have lowered considerably,” the state minister told attendants of the HIV annual review planning meeting.
She continued, “Of significant note is that the island has succeeded in improving viral suppression from the low 50s in 2018 to 75 [per cent] in 2022. Much is also to be said of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. This has seen a significant decline from 5.4 per cent in 2017 to less than 1 per cent to date.”
She credited Jamaica’s improvements and responsiveness to the HIV epidemic to continued partnerships with international bodies that are determined to lend a hand in the fight against and control of this disease.
“Allow me to specially commend the UNAIDS Office in Jamaica for its significant work in our national HIV response. Truly, the accomplishments to date are undergirded by a mission to see all people treated with equity and supported by systems that allow for access to health for all.”