Caribbean’s HIV/AIDS fight facing setbacks -Ministers warn of youth Infections, drug access issues

Health Ministers from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago are warning that despite years of progress, the Caribbean’s fight against HIV/AIDS is encountering serious challenges that could slow or reverse gains made across the region.The concerns were raised during the Opening Ceremony of the National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners meeting on Wednesday, where officials highlighted persistent gaps in prevention, treatment and access to medication.Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, pointed to worrying trends among young people.“Challenges remain. Our young people aged 15 to 24 account for one quarter of new infections, underscoring the need for youth-friendly prevention services. Key populations continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of HIV,” he said.Dr. Bodoe also flagged shortcomings in treatment coverage for children living with HIV, noting that progress in this area continues to lag behind adults.“Also, there is the issue of paediatric treatment coverage, which tends to lag significantly behind, with only 36% of children living with HIV on treatment and less than one-third achieving viral suppression,” he added.Meanwhile, Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who also chairs the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Executive Board, raised concerns about access to critical medication within the region.“We have seen that by 2027 the cost of Lenacapavir should come down to about US$40 per year, and that is remarkable progress. The challenge, however, is that while that is happening, we in the Caribbean still do not have access to this drug,” Dr. Anthony stated.He explained that international drug procurement systems and pricing structures often place Caribbean countries at a disadvantage.“If they think that you have resources, then they believe that you should pay the full cost. And that would put some of our countries at a disadvantage because then we would not be able to access these medications. There is also another important thing that we have to look at, and that is that sometimes ARVs that are available, the companies would actually tie up countries through different types of agreements,” he said.Adding to the challenge, Dr. Anthony noted that reduced international funding is further straining the region’s response, pointing out that the Global Fund has scaled back most of its financial support to the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.The ministers stressed that while progress has been made over the years, addressing these gaps, particularly among youth, children, and access to affordable medication, will be critical to sustaining the region’s HIV/AIDS response.