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In recognition of its enduring efforts to battle the dreaded Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),Chase Edmonds Jersey, Guyana was recently selected as a pilot country to implement ongoing monitoring of antiretroviral treatment (ART) cost, a new methodology proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).The local programme, according to Head of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat,Brad Kaaya Jersey, Dr Shanti Singh, has been highlighted as best practices in many areas such as the area of supply chain and warehouse management and the workplace programme which was just recently highlighted at the International AIDS conference in Vienna.“The Guyana programme has been used to pilot and inform many international recommendations on practices that are in place…Our patient monitoring system was used to assist WHO to define its own annual monitoring report,” Dr Singh added.She disclosed that Guyana’s process for the development of treatment guidelines has been documented at different levels and is being used as an example.According to Dr Singh, at the local level, “We are pleased with the progress that is being made in many aspects. Our National HIV/AIDS prevalence is now estimated with UNAIDS at 1.3 percent at the end of 2009.”She further revealed that the rates of HIV infection have continued in cases to decrease and in some cases have stabilised.And among pregnant women, Dr Singh disclosed that the rate has remained around one percent among pregnant women, while the rates among several groups of persons at high risk such as men who have sex with men and female commercial sex workers have decreased.From a programmatic perspective, she asserted that more persons are accessing services in prevention and in treatment which is evident by the more than 105,000 persons who were tested last year.Of the number tested, close to 12,000 were pregnant women.The national treatment programme has on record as at the end of last year more than 4,Cheap Authentic Dallas Cowboys Jerseys,000 persons. Close to 70 percent access antiretroviral therapy,Wholesale Vans Shoes For Sale, according to Dr Singh.“Whilst we know these achievements it is more important that we take a step back and examine our strategies and approaches and ask ourselves some important questions and try to find answers.“We need to ask ourselves how can we do better what we have already done well? How can we adapt to ensure success in those areas that we are lagging behind? How can we adapt to ensure that we achieve more for less considering the global economic difficulties? How do we sustain all of these efforts?”At the recently concluded AIDS conference it was emphasised that the key to further achieving progress is prevention. And according to Dr Singh, the recent Ministry of Health’s launch of a Supermarket Initiative coupled with the launch of World AIDS Day under the theme “Human Rights and Universal Access” demonstrates that the programme is moving in the direction to answer some of the arising questions associated with the fight against HIV/AIDS.The Supermarket Initiative which will see participation from 10 local supermarkets was born out of the necessity to ensure that prevention is accessible to all thereby confirming to universal access and that efforts are built on a pillar of sustainability.The initiative,Miami Dolphins Jersey, she said,China Jerseys, has many objectives and is aligned with the priority area two of the Guyana HIV Strategy of reducing risk and vulnerability to HIV infection. “This initiative has the potential to reach close to 1,000 employees at the 10 supermarkets and their families.Importantly it has the potential to reach close to 2,Fj?llr?ven K?nken Sverige,000 persons on a daily basis,” Dr Singh added.According to her, the arrangements that have been put in place with the supermarkets will enable regular monitoring of the initiative. And there are plans, she revealed, to expand the venture, to widening the reach outside of Central Georgetown and even beyond Region Four. |
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