Care packages for persons living with HIV
The Ministry of Health has donated personal care packages to the National Care and Treatment Centre (NCTC), for those persons living with HIV (PLWH) who attend clinic at the facility. Special care packages were also set aside for those children who were born HIV positive, who are also treated at the facility.
The donation is part of the Ministry’s World AIDS Day 2020 initiative.
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, said the battle against HIV and AIDS has been long, but he is pleased that patients have been able to access much needed care and support through the NCTC and other organisations.
“That’s one of the reasons we have patients surviving for so many years, I’m very grateful, it’s because of the work that has been done by our staff, the doctors, the nurses the social workers, pharmacists, lab persons, all of these forces that have helped to improve the lives of persons living with HIV and AIDS.”
Minister Anthony said the battle with HIV was ongoing and targets have been set by the United Nations through its 90-90-90 initiative, where by the year 2020, 90 per cent of all PLWH were to know their status, 90 per cent of those diagnosed with HIV infection must receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90 per cent of all PLWH must receive antiretroviral treatment to have viral suppression.
Minister Anthony said because of COVID-19, all of the set targets have not yet been achieved, except for the first; “90 per cent of all people living with HIV in the country know their status”.
“We haven’t been able to hit all those targets, but we are still going to continue working to achieve those, and in another couple of days, a week or so, we expect that we will be able to release our strategic plan for the next five years.”
Minister Anthony said he hoped the packages would bring smiles to the faces of those receiving them, especially in this Christmas season.