BVI News

World AIDS DAY: Protect those with HIV/AIDS amid COVID fight

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally for “global solidarity” to maintain essential HIV services during COVID 19.

In a news release, the WHO also called “on countries to provide health workers with greater protection and support so they can continue their work safely during the pandemic”.

The organisation said researchers are currently investigating whether people with HIV have an increased risk of poor outcomes with COVID-19.

Results from 25 studies on COVID-19 patients living with HIV shows that two-thirds (66.5%) had mild to moderate symptoms. Among patients who died, the majority (90.5%) were over 50 years old and had multi-morbidity (64.3%).

The Caribbean region has made significant progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths.

The number of people dying of AIDS-related deaths have decreased from 11,000 in 2010 to 6,900 in 2019. During that same period, the region also saw a reduction of new HIV cases down from an estimated 18,000 new cases to 13.000 per year.

“Efforts must continue to sustain and improve the progress that has been achieved in the fight against HIV. The CARICOM region will only have continued success if we acknowledge and address the challenges affecting those living with or vulnerable to contracting HIV. The need for a multi-sectoral response is even greater in COVID-19 times. We have to take innovative steps towards the global goals so that our Region’s promise to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 can become a reality,” stated Dr Joy St. John, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency.

Share the news

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

3 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. Sadly says:

    The persons that made and deliberately put this disease in the Black community to kill them off have yet to , and will not be brought to justice, even after admitting and confessing that they made and distributed the aids disease to kill and exterminate Black people.

    These are some of the same people who now wants Black people to trust them with a vaccine.

    Trust, unlike a vaccine or a deadly disease, cannot be manufactured, and unfortunately, Black people have centuries of biological and other warfare been raised against them to have trust in any thing they bring firth and offer.

    From experience, it is clear then, that our own must test these new agents they want to put into our bodies to determine if the are safe and not designed to destroy us. History has taught us that that is the right approach to take.

    Well, go ask the Tuskegee victims if the would take a vaccine again.

    Trust is not manufactured.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
    • Aids was not manufactured says:

      Please just stop spreading ridiculous conspiracy theories. Look at reliable media outlets, check sources and don’t believe everything you see on Facebook.

      Like 1
      Dislike 3
  2. Aids was not manufactured says:

    Please just stop spreading ridiculous conspiracy theories. Look at reliable media outlets, check sources and don’t believe everything you see on Facebook.

    Like 1
    Dislike 3

Leave a Comment