MOHW: Belize Displays Steady Rate of HIV Cases

New H.I.V. infections are on the decline globally, but according to the Joint United Nations Programme on H.I.V. and AIDS, there is still much work to be done to end the pandemic. The disease has been a challenge for the Caribbean for decades, particularly in countries such as Haiti and Jamaica. However, while some countries like Belize have made strides in preventative measures, there is still work to be done to decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths. Doctor Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, provided us with some insight on those numbers.

 

Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit, MOHW

“For the past years, the numbers for H.I.V. pretty much have plateaued. It has not, I have not seen a decrease in the numbers as other countries have done.  But I haven’t also seen that sharp increase either. So we have maintained or self-retained that like two hundred. It’s not, it differs probably just a little bit or go down and go up. So those numbers have not changed. We still have H.I.V. related deaths.  So that is something that we also are seeing a decline in other areas. But in Belize, we’re still seeing that we do have HIV related deaths yet. Based on what we’re doing, as a ministry and as an entire response, because with the call on the National AIDS Commission and everybody that’s a part of that is how do we address the situation right now? How is it that we’re going to look at what is the best way to address this? To be done and do we need to do more targeted interventions with specific groups? Do we have this epidemic concentrated in a certain population? So those are the things we’re trying to work at.”