Rhema Lewis, HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit at the Ministry of Health revealed that 45 per cent of newly infected adults for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region are women.
However, T&T is said to be well on its way to becoming one of the first countries to end HIV/AIDS within its borders.
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh disclosed this in his message on World AIDS Day that was commemorated yesterday.
World AIDS Day, designated on December 1 every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite to fight HIV.
In 2018, the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited recorded that the health ministry spent approximately TT$70 million on the purchase of anti-retroviral drugs, CD4 reagents and rapid HIV test kits.
Deyalsingh said the implementation of several strategic initiatives has brought T&T closer to the elimination of the disease locally.
He further explained that last year the Ministry of Health commenced its enhanced molecular biology laboratory programme, “This initiative supported the improved processing of tests, the faster turnaround time for results and real-time access to results and reports for clinicians.”
The enhanced molecular biology laboratory service equipment is already operational at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and the Medical Research Foundation T&T.
“Individually and collectively, we must all do our part to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS risk factors and ways to access diagnosis, treatment and care services. As we join the global community in observance of World AIDS Day, I encourage everyone to work with the Ministry of Health and our partners to achieve 90-90-90 targets and create a healthier and happier T&T,” Deyalsingh said.
