Today is World Aids Day, observed under the theme "The Right To Health." All over the world health activists are spearheading various activities to highlight the day and generate HIV and AIDS awareness while downplaying stigma.
In Belize City that meant an awareness fair and free HIV Testing at the Battlefield Park. We found out more.
Arthur Usher, National Aids Commission Communication and Programs officer
"Well we have a very wide range or programming today. We have an official ceremony which will also commemorate those who have been working in the field and giving them an unsung hero award. We also have partner agencies like UNFP, the department of youth services, and the Ministry of Health. We have local artists doing live displays throughout the day and again it is an interactive event. We have games and all this information so that people can really come out and enjoy the day but at the same time get educated about HIV."
"The Ministry of Health is doing free testing for anyone who wants and it comes with pre and post counselling."
Antonio Cowo, Ministry of Health
"It is a rapid test. What happens is we do a pre-counselling and intro counselling while the test is happening and then we do a post counselling when the result comes out."
"We do a prick on the finger and once we put the blood on the strip we actually apply the solution which makes the test happen rapidly like in 5 minutes you have your results."
"In the past, it used to take an hour. Now it is just a finger prick so ten minutes would be the most. So far thank goodness all the tests that are coming out are negative results."
Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"And in terms of the rate of AIDS in Belize. How is that? Has it gotten higher or lower?"
Arthur Usher
"It has basically been maintaining which in our eyes is still an area we do not want to be. We basically want to take down the numbers lower. Every year we are still getting more new infections so we still want to kind of take that number down. Therefore we are talking about promotion, awareness campaigns, and things like that we are doing to really take that number down."
There were also fairs in other districts.
A release from the National Aids Commission says that Belize will be on track in achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals meaning that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained
antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
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