Publication: Fighting HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
Date
2002-06
ISSN
Published
2002-06
Author(s)
Marquez, Patricio
Abstract
In the Caribbean, HIV/AIDS has become
the major cause of death among men under the age of 45.
Official figures show more than 360,000 people living with
AIDS, but estimates place the number at over 500,000 due to
underreporting. More than 80,000 children have been orphaned
by the epidemic, and the infection rate is estimated to have
reached 12 percent in some urban areas, spreading in many
countries from high-risk groups to the general population.
The Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS
will support national programs based on the countries'
own needs. While the general population will benefit from a
reduction in the rate of new infections, the program will
particularly benefit high-risk groups and the
300,000-500,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, by increasing
their care quality and coverage. The program (see Table 1,
on back page) will focus its support on a participatory
approach to facilitate government work in partnership with
patients, community groups, religious organizations, NGOs,
health professionals and the private sector. The five-year
program includes: Communications campaigns to raise
awareness; scaling up prevention activities, at the national
and community levels; strengthening care of people living
with HIV/AIDS by improving treatment, including sexually
transmitted infections and opportunistic infections like
tuberculosis; supporting research and surveillance; and
capacity building to improve program coordination and
resource management.
Citation
“Marquez, Patricio. 2002. Fighting HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. en breve; No. 4. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/d9db3d2d-dbdd-5c6d-9e41-84ee64e06933 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”