Despite the strides made locally in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Director of the HIV/AIDS Unit Mrs. Ferosa Roache says many barriers still exists that result in persons failing to access HIV testing services that are available.
Speaking on Wednesday at a ceremony at Frenches House to launch the week of activities for World AIDS Day, Mrs. Ferosa Roache said the joint United Nations Program on HIV estimates that globally 36.9 million people are living with HIV and more than 9.4 million people still do not know their status.
She noted that a significant number of persons in St. Vincent and the grenadines do not know their HIV status.
Mrs. Roache said that although HIV testing has been expanded locally, many people go for years without getting tested and only do so when they become ill and symptomatic and end up in hospital with symptoms of AIDS when it is too late.
The Director of the HIV/AIDS Unit explained that barriers to HIV/AIDS such as stigma and discrimination still exist.
World AIDS Day 2018 will be marking its 30th anniversary on December 1, and will be observed under the theme “Know your status” with the local slogan “Get up and get tested.”
