Image: Hon. Dr Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Guyana  

Participants of the Guyana National Faith Leaders Consultation in August, including faith leaders and leaders of key populations, were privileged to hear from Hon. Dr Karen Cummings, MP, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Guyana.

While Minister Cummings reflected on the progress made in the region’s HIV response, including the seven Caribbean territories being validated for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, she spoke of some “hard truths” regarding the challenges related to the response.

Minister Cummings warned that stigma and discrimination threaten the laudable gains made and can be considered a primary barrier to vulnerable populations accessing HIV prevention and other health care services.

“From fears of contagion to negative social judgment, many persons in society often unwittingly engage in and encourage varying degrees of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV,” stated the Minister.

Tackling stigma is key to HIV prevention

Minister Cummings further reflected on the early history of the epidemic when the late Jonathan Mann, former Head of the World Health Organization’s Global Programme on AIDS, had identified AIDS-related stigma and discrimination as a third epidemic following the accelerated spread of HIV infection and the visible rise in AIDS cases.

Minister posited that Mann recognized that stigma, discrimination, blame, and denial are potentially the most difficult aspects of HIV to address. However, she affirmed that tackling the factors that were outlined by Mann continues to be the key to preventing HIV transmission and mitigating the impact of the disease on individuals, families, and communities.

Minister Cummings noted that since its detection in 1983, HIV has been associated with aspects of religion such as “moral failings” and “sinful behaviour”. She underscored that this was a misguided view, stating, “We need to recognize, acknowledge and embrace all people, regardless of their beliefs, political persuasion, and sexual orientation.”

The Public Health Minister said that an essential part of the Fast Track Initiative to end AIDS is the inclusion of key populations who are being left behind in the HIV response. This mainly occurs, the Minister noted, because of stigma and discrimination, which severely impact negatively on vulnerable groups who hesitate to be tested because of fear.  These persons are ultimately left untreated.

“As healthcare providers responsible for the health and wellbeing of our fellow human beings, we cannot be blinded by prejudice and insular judgment. If we are truly committed and determined to take the fight to end AIDS, then we must demonstrate that resolve by working with persons with HIV, including the key population component,” Minister Cummings emphasized.

Faith leaders are integral to the response

Addressing the participants of the consultation, Minister Cummings highlighted that religious leaders play a vital role in helping to further the achievements of the health sector.  “Through your perspective, you have expanded programmes in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health. Further, you have support from international funding to help track the epidemic in a multi-sectoral, multi-level, multi-dimensional effort that simultaneously reduces stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction, and misinformation still attached to HIV.”

Minister recommended that faith leaders intensify their efforts to support public health initiatives by promoting the SAVE model – Safe practices, available medicines, voluntary testing and empowerment through education – at the individual, family, local, community and national level.

She challenged Guyana’s faith community to work closer with the public health sector on removing barriers of stigma and discrimination and underscored that partnership and collaboration are integral to achieving the 2030 goal of ending AIDS.