According to the World Health Organization (WHO), HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 32 million lives so far.
However, with increasing access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
St. Kitts and Nevis is the first Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) country to eliminate mother to child transmission of the disease.
The Health Promotion Unit here on Nevis hosted a Youth and Leaders forum on HIV from Monday, November 25th to Tuesday November 26th, 2019.
Participants were afforded the opportunity during the event to address issues surrounding the deadly disease.
Information shared during the function included the status of HIV here in the federation as well as the National response in terms of prevention.
Speaking at his monthly Press Conference on Wednesday, November 27th, 2019, the Hon. Mark Brantley who was present at the Forum explained why it is important that individuals should know their status.
He noted that we must be very vigilant when it comes to the disease as “the numbers presented continue to be quite stubborn” and provided these statistics.
