Gov’t allocates $1b for HIV/ AIDS response project

TO FURTHER decrease infections in high-risks groups, the Government has set aside more than $1 billion for the National HIV/AIDS Response in Jamaica Project during the 2024/2025 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.

Full information of the project is outlined i n the 2024/2025 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 2023, include HIVintervention support programmes to 6,879 men-who-have-sexwith-men (MSM), 6,592 MSM provided with HIV testing and test results, and 8,195 female sex workers (FSWs) reached with HIVprevention programmes.

Also, 7,584 FSWs provided with HIV testing and test results, 302 transgender (TG) persons reached with HIV-prevention programmes, 249 TG persons provided with HIV testing and test results, and 99 MSM initiated on oral antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Fifty-four per cent of people living with HIV were engaged on the antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme; it achieved 79 per cent placement on virological suppression, while 91 per cent of people newly diagnosed with HIV were put on the ART intervention.

It is anticipated that for the upcoming financial year, the programme will reach 10,044 MSM, provide 9,040 MSM with testing and test results, reach 10,829 female sex workers with HIVprevention programmes, provide 9,746 FSWs with HIV testing and test results, and reach 768 TG persons with HIV-prevention programmes.

Tests and test results will also be provided to 691 TG persons, initiate 2,215 MSM on the PrEP, 119 TG persons will be placed on the medicine taken to prevent HIV, 89 per cent of people living with HIV to be put on the ART, 90 per cent of the carriers of the virus will be put on the programme, and 95 per cent of people newly diagnosed with HIVwill be given support.