Barbados is on course for completion of the health aspects of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and has been highly praised by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).
At a regional PAHO management meeting yesterday at Hilton Barbados, Minister of Health John Boyce said Barbados was on target for MDG six – achieving universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all who need it by 2010 and halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidences of malaria and other major diseases by 2015.
“The ministry’s HIV/AIDS programme continues to play a fundamental role in prevention, treatment and care facets of the national HIV/AIDS efforts here in Barbados. Barbados HIV/AIDS surveillance report 2010 states that there is an overall downward trend in the number of HIV cases being diagnosed annually which is reflective of transmission rates.
“Similarly, there is a downward trend in mortality rates among those with HIV in care at the Ladymeade Reference Unit. Barbados is on target to achieve MDG number six which states: ‘Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015’,” he said. (CA)
